For the second year in a row, senior living facilities of Porter County brought their residents together for a movie and lunch at the Portage 16 IMAX. On February 16th, 2016, they settled into Theatre 13 for a private screening of The Intern.
The event was sponsored by the Mayor’s Senior Advisory Committee, a network of over a dozen health care agencies in the county. Rittenhouse Senior Living of Portage, Porter Regional Hospital, Visiting Nurses Association of Porter County and Porter-Starke Services are just a few of the organizations giving back through participation with an event that has already supported them tremendously.
Judy Kukelka, Marketing Director for Rittenhouse of Portage and a Visiting Nurse’s Association representative on the Advisory Committee, said, “As a committee we try to find the gap for seniors and aim to provide the best quality of life for them. Today that means getting them out and doing something fun.”
The Advisory Committee has a Senior Health Fair every year at Woodland Park to raise money for the various projects and events they have for the county’s seniors.
“We want to use that money to give back to the community,” explained Janet Clem, Director at Portage Township’s Bonner Senior Center, “And this is one way we do that.”
Other ways they give back are through their annual Senior Art Fair and their Honored Senior Award. They are also trying to bring a public transportation system to Portage.
Portage IMAX Movie Day is a more light-hearted project, but it is an important one nonetheless. Residents expressed their excitement and appreciation at being able to enjoy a morning out. The tickets, popcorn, and drinks were all paid for by the advisory committee. Afterwards, they dined on sandwiches and wraps, and the VNA provided dessert.
Theatre Manager Kevin Morgan said of the event, “It’s a good opportunity for them to come as a group. Usually they come with two or three people, but with everyone here you get more of a communal experience.”
For more information on events at the Portage IMAX, click here.