The 20th Annual Senior Lifestyle Expo was held August 25 and 26 . With a fun Hollywood movie theme and plenty to see, do and learn, there was just about something for everyone! This event is the largest and most comprehensive expo for seniors in the area. It featured live entertainment, educational seminars, a game show challenge, senior food drive, an evening session for caregivers and the opportunity to connect with over 125 organizations and businesses. Two annual competitions, Senior Idol and Writing Challenge, gave seniors the chance to show off their talents and really shine!

 
Then on November 1, it was time for the 24th Annual Celebrity Chefs Brunch. The stage was set for fun as the Hollywood theme continued! Emcee Andy Avalos, NBC5 Morning Meteorologist led us through a great and successful event. Over $123,000 was raised for the Holiday Meals on Wheels program! The menu was mouthwatering with our talented chefs once again proving that they are the best of the best! Guests bid on great items in the auctions, tried their luck at the raffles and enjoyed wine and beer tastings. We are so very appreciative of sponsors, guests, donors, volunteers and supporters who made this a great year!

-Ginnie Moore, MS, RDN, LDN

Community Planner/Health Educator

HOME is where we should be able to prosper and feel safe. HOME is where I am most comfortable and the spot that I am most likely to defend to my death! ILLINOIS is my home and for most of you reading this, Illinois is your home, too! Now I ask you, do you want to live and die here? Do you feel safe and prosperous here? Are you comfortable enough to defend Illinois to your death? If your answer is no or you are the least bit hesitant to respond, it is probably connected in some way to the Illinois state budget.... Or the lack of a State budget.The Governor and the leaders of the Illinois General Assembly have dug their heels in and tossed holiday compassion along with compromise into the wind! This budget impasse is threatening our safety, our prosperity, and our comfort. We, the people, cannot be happy with or passive about that!

For many the holidays will be anything but happy.... Countless low-income families, children, older adults and persons with disabilities will see the holiday season as just another string of days without services and filled with future uncertainties. Already community action agencies are reducing staff and hours of operation, cutting energy assistance programs and interventions for the homeless and victims of domestic violence. The longer the budget impasse lasts, the deeper the erosion to human services. Financial reserves will be exhausted, lines of credit will be maxed-out, staff will be laid off, hours and days of operation will be reduced, and finally doors will close.

Last year, home delivered meals postponed or prevented the institutionalization of more than 87,000 homebound elderly. Adult protective service providers will not have the staff or resources to investigate an estimated 19,000 reports of alleged abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Those suffering from mental illnesses may not be able to obtain stabilizing medications.

Please join me in urging the Governor and the General Assembly to ACT NOW to resolve their political differences and enact a State budget. NO action has terrible consequences for all of us, especially for our fellow citizens at greater risk. Let us raise our voices for those who cannot speak for themselves. Governor Rauner, House Speaker Madigan, Senate President Cullerton, and all our elected officials, come to the table of compromise and adopt a budget for the people of Illinois. That's the best holiday gift you can give to your constituents! 

Sincerely,

Lucia West Jones, CEO

Northeastern Illinois Agency on Aging