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Sunday, May 24, 2009 2:35 PM Senior Awareness Day is Friday By Janelle Clevinger | Times Staff Writer The day is for seniors. It is a day meant to celebrate their lives and contributions, but it is also about bettering the quality of their lives. The highly-anticipated 16th Annual Senior Awareness Day, a collaborative effort between the Wilson County Department of Social Services, community partners and local businesses, will be held Friday at Farmington Heights Church of God. "We want them to have fun and fellowship, but we also want them to get valuable information to assist them in a happy, healthier longer life," said Charlene Hill, adult services supervisor with DSS and chairman of Senior Awareness Day. "This is their special day -- a day that we celebrate them and the ground that they have broken before us. "We celebrate what they've given to this county because sometimes they can be the 'forgotten population,'" she said;. Over 1,000 seniors are expected to attend the event. Pre-registered attendees now number 850, but another 250 usually show up that day. The theme for this year's senior day is "Living Today for a Better Tomorrow," and organizers hope that the program speakers, entertainment, and vendor offerings will help attendees do just that. "We want to educate seniors about programs and services available at DSS and other services they may be eligible for," said Hill. "We educate them on how federal, state and local agencies can help them live better lives in their least restrictive environment." The day's events are free to the seniors and combine meals, speakers, entertainment and door prizes to keep the attendees busy and happy. A breakfast will be held from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m., and the program beings at 9 a.m. with the Sallie B. Howard School dance ensemble. Reginald Speight, the CEO of Energy Efficient Evaluators and Service Providers in Martin County, will speak about how his organization can make their homes and apartments more energy efficient, thereby reducing their utility bills. "Mr. Speight has helped over 1,900 people make their homes more energy efficient, and not just in Martin County," said Hill. "These services are also available in Wilson and Nash counties also." Tony Hackett, a DSS employee, will motivate the crowd through comedy. "This group wants to laugh and have fun, and he's the perfect person for that," Hill said. "He's done this before for us and our surveys said that they wanted him back." The Coastal Plain Council of Government will present a Title 5 program about employment for seniors, the Sallie B. Howard band and chorus groups will perform, and the Beddingfield High School chorus and The DSS Choir will also take the stage. Seniors will enjoy a lunch from Bill's Barbecue. Over 60 vendors will be set up throughout the church, and include companies representing health staffing services, independent living homes, hearing aid services, funeral homes and transportation services. Wilson County Health Department and Emergency Management Services will be in attendance, and Dr. Dennis Polley will be on site giving free skin cancer screenings. If seniors need transportation to and from the event, they can call Wilson County Transportation at 291-1979 for assistance. Interested persons must call for transportation services before Tuesday evening. For more information about the 16th Annual Senior Awareness Day, call Likia Smith-Chillous at DSS, 265-8001 ON THE MAP runs on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. If you have a story that you want to share, e-mail jclevinger@wilsontimes.com or call 265-7811. If you have an event that you would like to enter on our community calendar, go to www.wilsontimes.com and click on the link for submitting information to the calendar. |
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