Porter County Aging and Community Services recently marked its impact on the community during its annual meeting.
The non-profit agency has the opportunity to serve through its transportation and ramp programs as well as its participation in the Energy Assistance Program, United Way Emergency Assistance Grant, State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) and the Federal Housing Voucher Program.
The demand-response transportation program provides Porter County seniors and individuals with disabilities transportation to doctors, dialysis, adult day care and other necessary services.
In the last year, buses were in service for 248 days and they made 23,010 one-way trips and averaged 93 trips per day. The agency served 279 clients with 183,024 total passenger miles.
“Our transportation program is in great shape as we replaced five buses last year and have five new bus drivers who all have previous driving experience,” said PCACS Executive Director Bruce Lindner.
The annual Energy Assistance Program assisted 1,048 clients during the season running from November 2016 to May 2017. This included 370 senior clients, 299 disabled clients and 138 new clients. The amount distributed through the program totaled $397,790.93 up from the previous season of $296,851.
“Energy Assistance is an income-eligible program managed by Deputy Director Judy Peracki with intake staff members Carol Hammond and Marilyn Lindner as well as volunteers Gail Galvan, Inge Nimtz and Dorothea Price,” Lindner said.
As an administrator of the United Way Emergency Assistance Grant, PCACS utilized $45,460.59 to help 93 clients with such emergency situations as medical and housing repair expenses as well as mortgage or rent payments and car repairs.
“This fund is for community members who are stable, but come across a challenge where they need assistance for a one-time event,” Lindner said.
With an increase in funding and the strong skills of the teams at Task Force Tips and Chicago UAW/Ford Community Service Ramp Project, 14 ramps were built during the season last year.
“We are striving to construct 15 ramps this season and already have wrapped up six ramps that are helping community members access their homes,” Lindner said.
The SHIP volunteers submitted 39 Medicare Savings Program applications last season and nine Medicare Part D Extra help applications. SHIP is a free and unbiased counseling program provided by the Indiana Department of Insurance for Medicare beneficiaries in Indiana. Throughout the year, SHIP counselors assist those new to Medicare as well as those who've been on it for years.
“We are proud to be a program site for SHIP, which now has five volunteers: Ginger Brockwehl, Tom Murphy, Deborah Brann, Sandy Schaffer and Brenda Bocek,” Linder said. “Their dedication to their volunteer roles is obvious in the work that they do.”
The Federal Housing Voucher Program assisted 308 clients in the last year. The program has been administered by Valerie Martinez for four years.
“Martinez cultivates positive relationships with landlords and is resourceful at finding additional avenues to better serve clients,” Lindner said.
He said many of the board members have served for years and are a vital component of the agency’s success.
“We appreciate the service of Ethan Lowe, Michael Lipp, Rondi Wightman, Kimberly Wiseman, Barb Kubiszak, Bob Macmahon, Cathy Ellis, George Iemmolo, Cliff Malings, Ed Gottschling, Diane Bates and Sylvia Graham,” he said. “I want to thank our board members who do a wonderful job understanding what we do and supporting our mission.”
PCACS’ mission is to extend a helping hand to seniors, those with disabilities and low-income residents by providing services to improve their quality of life, including transportation, nutrition programs, energy assistance and activity centers.
For more information, visit www.portercountyacs.org.