About 800 people attended the Leader’s Festus Senior Expo at the Jefferson County YMCA on June 18.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with everyone who came out and supported us at our new senior expo location, the YMCA,” said Katelyn Mary Skaggs, digital marketing manager for the Leader. “We ate doughnuts. We laughed. We played bingo. We listened to speakers. We danced to the music of J.B. Louis and the Legends. We had so much fun.”
About 40 vendors were on hand, offering products and services for seniors, such as health care options, estate planning, senior living, home improvement, banking and more. Some vendors even offered giveaways.
The highlight of the morning was the grand prize drawing, and Tom Heyman’s name was randomly drawn as the winner of the prize – a rocker recliner from Genuine Appliance and Furniture.
Heyman of Arnold said he attends many Leader senior expos with his wife, Julie, but they had never won a prize there before.
“She said, ‘we’re not going to win, we never win,’” he said. “I said, ‘not with that attitude!’”
He said they were excited to win.
There were two full sessions of bingo where gift certificates and other prizes were awarded. YMCA instructor Donna Allen-Freese led a chair yoga class. Detectives with the Festus Police Department spoke about senior safety and Justin A. Wolf from MoDOT provided updates on the recent construction along I-55 and Hwy. 67.
Skaggs said there was a threat of rain and storms that day, but it turned out to be a gorgeous morning.
“I appreciate everyone who turned out,” she said. “It was so good to see all the smiling seniors who came out and enjoyed the day.”
Last year, the Festus Senior Expo was held at the Festus High School’s Performing Arts Center but this year construction projects kept the event from returning there. Skaggs said the Leader was thrilled to partner with the YMCA to hold the senior expo.
“They were such gracious partners,” she said. “The space was wonderful. We thank the YMCA for their hospitality. Without them, we couldn’t have made it happen this year.”
Leader Publications is hosting seven senior expos this year. The remaining four expos include the West Side Senior Expo on July 16 at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill; the Arnold Senior Expo on Aug. 27 at the Arnold Eagles Hall; the Farmington Area Senior Expo on Sept. 24 at the Mineral Area College Tech Center; and the Eureka Senior Expo on Oct. 22, at the Timbers of Eureka.
The events are free and geared to people 50 and over.
Businesses and organizations interested in securing a vendor space for any of the expos may contact the Leader at 636-931-7560 or ads@myleaderpaper.com.
Click to see more pictures from the event:
