The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce had its first Senior Expo and Outreach on Tuesday, June 3, at Lakeview Middle School in Warsaw. Here, Thomas Pletcher, left, is shown with Gary Herbruck, seated in the center, of Guidepost Insurance and Colleen Shay, seated on the right, of Silver-Link Insurance.
WARSAW — The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce’s first Senior Expo & Outreach offered attendees information on health care, insurance, volunteer opportunities and more.
The event occurred on Tuesday, June 3, at Lakeview Middle School in Warsaw.
Along with information from more than 55 vendors, people could also hear presentations on identity theft and fraud and estate planning and long-term care.
Stacey Leek with Paddock Springs senior living community and Allyson Taylor with McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapels planned the event.
“This year, I met (Taylor), and (McHatton-Sadler) had a vision of having some sort of health fair or senior expo kind of thing,” said Leek. “I had already had that discussion the year previous, and so I said, ‘Why don’t we join forces?’ and it kind of came together that way.”
Avis Gunter, left, stands with Cedar Creek of Warsaw Executive Director Marcie Fisher.
Leek said the planning “went under (the Chamber’s) umbrella” a few months ago.
“They really took us under their wing and really helped guide us in our vision, and they’ve partnered with us and have been a great resource for us … We couldn’t have done it without them,” said Leek.
She said “a steady stream of people (had come) through.”
“The feedback that I’ve heard back from the community is that ‘I didn’t know there was so much in our community,’” said Leek.
She noted the event wasn’t just for seniors.
“You may not need (the information) now, but come in and educate yourself because that’s going to take the stress off you and you’re going to know where to turn and what to look for when you get to that point and you have to make those decisions,” said Leek.
She said organizers plan to have the Senior Expo & Outreach again in 2026 and “make it bigger and better.”
