Senior Programs & Services
Seniors Section
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Nomination for Senior Services-Township of the Year Zion Township’s Commitment to Senior Citizens Zion Township does not have a large budget, any buildings or a transportation system. So, the most acclaimed skill of our staff is networking with local organizations to provide “caviare services on a bolonga sandwich budget”. Apparent in the list below, Zion Township networks with many other taxing bodies, businesses, churches, and civic organizations to provide seniors with as many no or low cost benefits and services possible. Zion Township diligently strives to promote the well being of its senior population. This assiduousness is evident through the constant detective work to bring new and innovative senior programs to the community as well as the acquisition of senior programs already created by others. Zion Township’s devotion to its senior constituents does not stop at offering senior programs. Meal Programs Zion Township Meals on Wheels Program, ensuring that qualified seniors and shut-ins receive a hot meal five days a week, including holidays. Zion Township volunteers deliver the meals for Catholic Charities MOW Program. Zion Township also processes Catholic Charities Discount Meal Card applications so that seniors may visit area congregate meal sites to enjoy a well-balanced meal. N & T Restaurant in Zion is one of the congregate meal sites. Zion Township also designed and distributes their own Farmers Market Coupons from the Illinois Department of Aging, ensuring our seniors receive free produce from local area Farmer’s Markets. We realize socializing is important to maintaining and promoting a senior’s quality of life. So, each month Zion Township partners with the Zion Park District to host a Senior’s Luncheon, which is open to all Zion seniors. Township covers the meat costs for the meals. This meeting features entertainment as well as “Hot Topic” guest speakers.Every Thanksgiving, Zion Township coordinates with other organizations to deliver over 200 Holiday Food Baskets to area seniors to ensure that they receive a well-deserved holiday meal. For Christmas, the township networks with local grocery stores to provide a $10 Holiday Gift Certificate for seniors to purchase their own food choices for the holiday. Transportation Zion Township takes the transportation limitations of seniors very seriously. We provide fifteen 1/2 Price Taxi Tickets to each senior 65 and over on a monthly basis, we subsidize the PACE Dial-A-Ride (800-201-6446) services providing curb-to-curb transportation outside of Zion two days a week, we process RTA Applications for reduced fare bus and train passes and sell reduced fare bus passes. In order to fill the gap, we also contract with the Zion Park District (847-746-5500) to provide curb-to-curb service for Zion seniors to the local grocery store of their choice each Friday morning. Additional Services, Forums and Fun! Other services that are provided include our Kmart Prescription Credit program for seniors 55 and older. Each year, the Township partners with Kmart to provide a $100.00 prescription credit to 200 low-income seniors in Zion. For this program, Kmart and Zion Township each put $10,000 towards offering this service to seniors. Another program that won us the “Most Innovative Senior Program Award, is the Anytime, Anywhere® 911 Emergency ContactProgram, designed so that seniors have the ability to dial 911 for assistance anytime, anywhere. The Township collects old cell phones, sends them out to be refurbished, and then reissues them free of charge to interested seniors. These phones work only when a 911 emergency call is made and does not require a service provider. This means there are no associated charges. Zion Township co-partners with Benton Township to sponsor a Senior Resources Day. In 2010, 50 vendors participated with 155 attendees. Zion Township, in cooperation with Zion Park District Senior Advisory Board and other local organizations work to coordinate an Annual Senior Prom. A new King and Queen is crowned, a themed dinner served, live music, dancing and professional photographs are planned for the big event. An Afternoon Picnic follows the event the next day, with the Board of Trustees as the head chefs. Also, this year, in cooperation with Benton Township, the Zion Park District, and the Zion-Benton Public Library, Zion Township held its Senior Spelling Bee, joining the many other Townships at Maine Township for the Regional Senior Spelling Bee. Monthly Birthday Cards is a way to honor our seniors. Zion Township Senior Birthday Cards are created and designed by Northpointe Resources, Inc. – a facility that employs adults with disability in exchange for the Summer Work Program youths work hours. Any senior at least 65 years of age who has made contact with Zion Township. Inside each birthday card is a free donut for CJ’s Coffee Shop or Cake Box Bakery, a Culver’s free ice cream card, Supervisor’s business card and the must have Birthday confetti. Zion Township also sponsors The Queen Bees of Zion Red Hat Society. This social group has approximately 80 members and the group continues to grow. The Township Supervisor is the resident “Worker Bee” who assists in organizing trips and even drives the bus! Other daily services for seniors include processing Passports, Notary Services and Voter’s Registrar. Through networking services, Zion Township provides RTA Free Rides Program, processing LIHEAP (Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program) applications, Circuit Breaker booklets, Secretary of State Super Senior Program/Rules of the Road. Each month, the Zion Township Supervisor attends monthly meetings, which are held at one of the senior housing development to hear senior issues and share information and resources with the residents. Senior Handyman Program It is clear to see that Zion Township staff takes the business of serving seniors very seriously. We enjoy what we do. We were even able to surprise a local senior with a well-needed motorized wheel chair, making her dream come true! To us, having a job where the most important responsibility is to care for our constituents or make someone else’s day, is a better job than any one of us could ever dreamed of having. |