NILES — Starting March 19, two local businesswomen are partnering to offer a variety of informational seminars to seniors.

Sabrina Wickens, co-owner of Halbritter Wickens Funeral Services, and Gena Frantz, a branch manager at 1st Source Bank and a Life Transitions Specialist, created the program.

The seminars are free and open to the public and will take place at 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month through Dec. 17. All programs will take place at the Niles District Library, 620 E. Main St. There will be coffee and cookies provided, as well as door prize drawings at each event.

The program will kick off with an introduction led by Wickens, Frantz and Tiffany Russell, the social services worker at the Niles District Library. They will discuss the resources they provide to the local community and how they can help seniors.   

The seminars will cover a broad range of topics that Wickens hopes will provide seniors with a vast array of information.

Following the introduction, speakers from local nonprofits, including Fernwood, the Niles District Library and the Greater Niles Senior Center will discuss volunteer opportunities in the community. Other topics will include expert advice on which personal documents to shred and which to keep. A shredding truck will be available at this seminar on May 21. Following that, those who attend can learn how to cook meals for one, how to write their own obituary and how to avoid scams, to name a few.

Wickens said the funeral service utilizes 1st Source Bank, which is how she met Frantz. The two decided to partner when they realized they shared a goal to find a uniform way to spread information to seniors.

“We brainstormed different topics that we thought would be relevant to seniors in the community,” Wickens said. “We kind of divided and conquered to come up with a bunch of guest speakers.

While seniors are the target audience, Wickens said, she welcomed anyone who is interested in a seminar to attend. There is no pre-registration necessary to participate. To take part, people only need to show up and listen in.  

With a variety of speakers and topics to attend, Wickens said she and Frantz hope to provide their audiences with resources and knowledge. 

“It just seemed like a natural collaboration between the two of us,” Wickens said. “We are both really excited to offer these for the retired folks and seniors in the area.”

Schedule of seminars:

March 19: Meet Gena and Sabrina. What can we do for you?

April 16: Where Can I Volunteer?

May 21: What Can I Shred and What Should I Keep?

June 18: Cooking for One

July 16: POA: What are the Differences?

Aug. 20: How to Write Your Own Obituary?

Sept. 17: Security and Scams

Oct. 15: What are VA Benefits?

Nov. 19: Have the Talk of a Lifetime

Dec. 17: Spending Holidays Alone