Glen County senior expo organizers say event connected older residents to services, boosted center attendance

An organizer who spoke at the Glen County public meeting said the county’s senior expo was created after hearing repeated accounts of seniors struggling to access basic services and supports. “I am a petition and all of my clients are over the age of 55,” the speaker said, adding that the event grew from a small effort into a larger community consortium.

Organizers described the expo as a single point of contact where residents could learn about and connect to services rather than enroll directly in a county program. “Those services are out there. It’s connecting them to their services,” a county official said, arguing that the county’s role is to make sure older adults can find available programs without relying on handouts.

Speakers listed a wide range of offerings at the expo: food distribution and donated supplies, a clothing closet, free adult diapers, technology assistance and donated laptops (transcript noted as “AT and T”), legal help and notary services, tai chi and therapy demonstrations, and health screenings including blood pressure checks and flu shots. One speaker said the local hospital (name spoken in the transcript as “Elmo”) provided cancer screenings, physical therapy and agility testing at the event.

Organizers reported substantial turnout and donations. They said 300 goodie bags they expected to partially distribute were gone within 30 minutes and that thousands of pounds of pet food and other supplies were given away quickly. “We ended up having 1,500 pounds of dog food, 2,000 pounds of kitty litter, and 1000 pounds of cat food,” one speaker said.

Speakers credited the expo with measurable program impacts in the county: according to comments made during the presentation, senior-center attendance and participation in congregate meals rose after the expo, and one speaker stated the county saw a 400% increase in people going to senior centers. County presenters also said they now maintain a zero waiting list for the county’s senior nutrition program, which they described as a priority.

Speakers cautioned about ongoing challenges: several raised concerns about senior isolation in rural areas and noted that loneliness is a factor in higher suicide rates, underscoring the need for sustained outreach. Organizers said the event’s success depended on volunteers and partnerships and that they had developed a “road map” to help other counties replicate the expo.

The presenters named local helpers (Yasmin and Yolanda) and thanked school and community volunteers, county departments and neighboring counties for participation. They offered to share the expo roadmap with other counties to expand the model.

The presenters did not propose formal motions or request immediate policy votes at the meeting. They framed the expo as an ongoing community-driven initiative and said they planned to continue the program and assist other counties in adapting the model.