Community dances to support aging in place

Milestone Senior Services’ annual Celebrate Aging Together Dance Party brought about 90 community members together to raise funds for aging-in-place programs and honor local leaders, volunteers, and advocates for older adults.

Editor’s Note: Aging Matters is a series that examines programs, issues, and solutions that impact today’s seniors. This series is sponsored by Milestone Senior Services.

Tim Barnes (left), executive director of Ecumenical Senior Center (ESC), and James “Smitty” Smith pose with ESC members. Smith, a longtime bus driver for ESC, has high praise for the dance party. “It’s a great idea,” he says. “I like seeing people connected here with their senior citizens. It gets people out to mingle and to meet people.” Photo: Fran Dwight

Music, food, and a grooving dance floor brought the community together at Milestone Senior Services’ annual Celebrate Aging Together Dance Party. The event raised funds for programs that help older adults age in place and celebrated the contributions of seniors in the community.

About 90 people participated in the fundraiser held Friday evening, Sept. 11, in the community room of Advia Credit Union headquarters, 6400 W. Main St. in Kalamazoo.

Milestone’s Celebrating Aging Together Dance Party drew over 90 people. Photo: Mike Wenninger

Several people were honored with gifts in a brief ceremony during the party.  They were:

Mark and Jan Darrow, longtime volunteers for Milestone’s Home Delivered Meals program.

Members of ElderUP Kalamazoo ham it up. PHoto: Fran Dwight

Helen Guzzo, the City of Battle Creek’s community-development person, but formerly head of the Calhoun County Senior Millage and played a large part in programming for seniors.

Jeanne Hess, a Kalamazoo city commissioner who plays a vital role in getting funding for the Shop With a Senior event put on annually by the Department of Public Safety. 

A taco dinner complete with rice, beans and several desserts is served by Milestone’s own Generations Catering, a full-service business. Photo: Fran Dwight

Tim Barnes, Executive director of Ecumenical Senior Center, whose leadership for eight years is culminating in a new building nearing completion on Kalamazoo’s North Side.

Emma Powell, now 103 years old and boasting the longest membership in Ecumenical Senior Center.

More Photos:

The party hostess, Cassandra Stewart (left), Milestone’s director of development and marketing, poses with Myra Chase. Photo: Fran Dwight
Occasional line dancing got people out of their seats. Photo: Mike Wenninger
Charles “DJ Chuck” Welch kept dancers moving nonstop for long periods with his music selections. Photo: Fran Dwight
Dale Abbott, Milestone Grant Writer & Marketing Specialist, and Cassandra Stewart, Milestone Director of Fund Development & Marketing. Photo: Fran Dwight
Richard Kline, president and CEO of Milestone Senior Services, welcomes guests to the party. Photo: Fran Dwight
Author
Mike Wenninger

Mike Wenninger had a long newspaper career capped by being the
owner/editor of the weekly paper in a small town for 16 years.

Our Sponsors

Gilmore Foundation

Our Media Partners

Battle Creek Community Foundation
BINDA Foundation
Southwest Journalism Media Collaborative
Southwest Michigan First
Milestone Senior Services
Consumers Energy

Don't miss out!

Everything Southwest Michigan, in your inbox every week.

Close the CTA

Already a subscriber? Enter your email to hide this popup in the future.