Many of you may recall the excitement of 2000 when Lisa Hoff, director of Birch Grove Foundation, was awarded a grant through the Northland Foundation. She approached the foundation seeking $6,000 to begin a program in the west end of Cook County called “Seniors Connect West.” In 2005, the program grew to partner with Cook County Council on Aging and began offering compensable services at Birch Grove Center.
During this time Wendy Lund became Birch Grove Foundation’s director and Cook County began funding Seniors Connect West lunch program directly. For the next nine years, the lunch program continued to receive $4,800 to support nutrition in the West End for one day a week.
In 2014, Cook County supported a 30 percent non-mandated fund increase to sustain community center service and senior lunch in the West End. Fast forward to March 2015 and you will find Senior Connect West lunch thriving. Attendance has reached a record number of 36 people three times in the past four months. Fitness has expanded to three days a week with Go4Life at 10:30 a.m. on Monday and Wednesdays and Zumba Gold on Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
All aboard! The Seniors Connect West program hosts mini-bus trips. Seniors from all over Cook County enjoyed the last trip to Lake Superior’s “South Shore.”
According to the U.S. Census, 23.7 percent of the Cook County population is over age 65. The state average is 13.9 percent.
This presents our county with unique challenges and opportunities. Birch Grove Foundation decided in December to support our growing population of older adults by enhancing our programs and services and creating Cook County’s first rural nationally accredited senior center. This makes sense when every day 10,000 people nationwide turn 65 and in 2020 there will be more people over age 65 than under age 18.
Northland Foundation has answered our request once again! Their Rural Aging Initiative has awarded Birch Grove Foundation $20,000 as a capacity building grant. We hope you will join us to celebrate this occasion during senior lunch April 1 at 11:30 a.m. Find out what and how we will use this funding to offer Lutsen, Schroeder, and Tofte improved services.
The bus trips are fun, but the stops are even more fun. The next trip for Seniors Connect West is coming up on May 3 – 8 to Door County, Wisconsin.
If you are a township voter, support the Minnesota state statute recognized funding request for $10,000 contract for recreation and social services and the senior center fund allocation for $2,500. The 220-plus seniors in our townships, as well as seasonal visitors and guests who rely on us to provide quality of life and accessibility are depending on it.
Please consider attending our special board meeting and open house on Thursday, April 16 at 4:30 p.m. Contact Caroline Wood at 218-663-7977 if you are a township resident interested in being on our board of directors. We welcome volunteers, visitors, and guests at Senior Connect West. Together we can build a thriving community center for people of all ages!
Coming up is another great Senior Bus Trip. Seniors “In Search of Spring” are invited to take a mini bus tour to Door County, Wisconsin on May 3-8. The sign up deadline is April 3, so call 663-7977 to sign up.
Cook County has a vibrant and active community of elders. Each week we will offer Senior News to highlight our senior citizens. This week’s submission is about the Birch Grove Community Center in Tofte courtesy of Caroline Wood, M.S., executive director of Birch Grove Foundation.
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