Rittenhouse Senior Living of Valparaiso partnered with FirstLight HomeCare of Northwest Indiana to host a Friday night fish fry.
Why, you ask? Why not? Fried fish is delicious.
And the event raised money for the Banta Senior Center, which is not as delicious, but more important.
The Banta Senior Center is an enrichment center where adults 50 years and older can come and socialize and take part in fun activities. Here, seniors can take part in support groups, exercise classes, and games. The Center is also a Northwest Indiana Community Action nutrition site. It serves complimentary nutritious meals to seniors 60 and older Monday through Friday every week (though a contribution of $1.50 is appreciated).
“Our staff is often working at the Banta Center and it is very important to us,” Danielle Webb, Care Coordinator for FirstLight HomeCare of Northwest Indiana said. “FirstLight’s home is in Valparaiso, and we want to help our community as much as we can.”
"Seniors in our community need the Center to have a place to go to socialize," Frances Saar, Banta Senior Center member said. "I've been going there for many years and I really enjoy it."
FirstLight provided all of the desserts that diners enjoyed. Cookies, cakes, and other sweets covered an entire table, complementing the other items like hush puppies, cole slaw, and lake perch. Rittenhouse does many events like these that bring the community in to see what the facility is like and what the lives of the residents who live there are like.
“We decided to do this event because we want to stay as involved in our community as we can,” Natalie Reisen, Director of Sales for Rittenhouse Senior Living of Valparaiso said as she and other Rittenhouse staff busily filled the plates of waiting diners. "We have a larger turnout than expected and we're excited about that."
On top of the food, there was also a raffle for a great gift basket from Opportunity Enterprises Simply Amazing Market and other Rittenhouse gear. Webb’s daughter, Daijah Webb, came to help at the event. She often comes with her mom to volunteer at events like these, learning that helping out in the community touches so many lives as well as her own.
“I wanted to see what it was like to volunteer for such a good cause,” she said.
“We feel so supported by our community,” Julie Collins, Director of the Banta Senior Center said. “We plan to use the proceeds from this event for our art program and other activities. We are so grateful to Rittenhouse and FirstLight for doing this for us. They are both amazing businesses.”
Many came together to benefit many - that was the theme of the night. Let’s continue to be this giving to our communities so that our seniors will always have a safe and nurturing place like the Banta Center to turn to.