Cedar Rapids agency to host 65-hour fundraiser for senior programs

CEDAR RAPIDS — To continue addressing the needs of area seniors, a local agency is calling for community involvement in a three-day fundraising effort this week.

Aging Services, an arm of the regional not-for-profit AbbeHealth, is holding a 65-hour fundraiser called Give65 that will benefit Witwer Healthy Aging, which offers educational programs and social activities for seniors in the area.

The fundraiser, which is the only one in Iowa, will take place from 7 a.m. Tuesday through midnight Thursday. The goal is to raise $10,000. The Home Instead Foundation will match up to $5,000.

Give65 is an online crowd-fundraising platform created by Home Instead Senior Care Foundation last year to raise money for not-for-profits that service seniors.

'We really need our community's help for the benefit of our seniors because we're all going to be seniors some day and we're all going to need some help some day,' said Karen Huber, franchise owner of the Cedar Rapids Home Instead Foundation.

Witwer programs, that include fall prevention classes and watercolor painting groups, are offered at several sites in Cedar Rapids, Marion, Ely, Hiawatha and Springville.

Kathy Horan, vice president of Aging Services, said 1,700 individuals participated in the programs, which are free or low cost, in the last fiscal year.

Horan said the fundraising effort comes after the agency received a 'significant cut' from a local funding source.

'As an agency, Aging Services is still very committed to continue being able to provide these programs,' Horan said. 'This kind of community support is what it's going to take for us to be able to do that.'

Horan said funding for the Witwer program comes from Linn County and United Way of East Central Iowa, as well donations from the community.

Donations will be accepted starting at 7 a.m. July 11 until midnight on July 13 at www.give65.org/WitwerHealthyAging.

The goal is to raise up to $10,000. For every dollar up to $5,000 received through Give65, Home Instead Foundation will match, Huber said.

Money not donated during the 65 hour period or outside of the website will not be counted through the fundraising effort, and therefore will not be matched. Donations from Give65 will go toward maintaining Healthy Aging staff and supplies, she said.

'At this point,' Horan said, 'our goal would be to continue having community support these programs so our seniors, regardless of their ability to pay, can still participate.'

[naviga:h3 style="padding-left: 30px;"]PROGRAMS

Safety Scoop programs take place at 11 a.m. one Wednesday per month at the Cedar Rapids Central Fire Station, 713 First Ave. SE.

The events are free; no registration is required. Parking is available in the Rapids Reproductions lot on Second Avenue and Seventh Street SE.

The topics:

July 26: Elder abuse

Aug. 23: Scams

Sept. 27: Identity theft

Oct. 25: Personal safety

Nov. 22: Home safety

Dec. 27: Disposal of prescription medications

l Comments: (319) 368-8536; michaela.ramm@thegazette.com