GARY — Renee Patikas believes in the axiom that one event can make a change in a town or city. To that end, she coordinated, Make a Difference In Your Community event at the former Dusty’s restaurant in Gary.
A free luncheon for the first 30 visitors, five keynote speakers, five entertainers, a fashion show and 14 vendors were on the day’s lineup. The goal of the afternoon on Jan. 31 was to educate, entertain and show the neighborhood that people care about their city.
“When you hear the word, ‘Gary,’ many people think of it with a negative connotation,” said Patikas, owner of Northwest Indiana Community Connection magazine, which sponsored the event. “I want to be part of the change to make it positive instead.”
This is the third time Patikas, of East Chicago, has offered the special day of “doing good” in the region — previously at the old Portage Theater on Oct. 25, 2013, and at Dusty’s on Oct. 25, 2014. Although Oct. 25 is designated as the national Make a Difference In Your Community Day, it was decided that Gary deserved an extra day of good things.
“This is refreshing, to see things opening up again around here,” said Mary Lee Martin of Gary, as she visited the vendors area, which consisted of everything from scarves to jewelry and much in between. “Coming here today is good — neighbors get to see that people want to bring us a show in the neighborhood.”
Presenters covered topics such as the role of a nurse practitioner, senior citizens concerned with medical charges, legal issues and dental information.
“I had no idea that a nurse practitioner could write prescriptions and admit people to the hospital,” said Kelly Karrington of Gary, as she listened to Valerie Royal of HealthNet Inc. talk about her role at the medical facility. “It’s good to know that we have these kinds of people at our disposal.”
The afternoon’s schedule also included a fashion show by Gary business owner Anna King Lund.
Lund introduced four young ladies as they strolled among the audience, modeling items from her company, Dominiques Collections International.
“We have a lot of professional and talented people in this city,” said Gary resident Tracey Harris, as she watched the fashion show. “It’s fun to see a lot of them here.”
Woody Wilcox is a senior medical bill caseworker at Senior Care Insurance Services, and he discussed the company’s goal of protecting senior citizens from financial harm.
“We fight for our clients,” he said. “We help seniors to not pay any more money than the government requires.”
The day’s event could be subheaded, “unity in the community,” as local companies, local medical facilities and local individuals donated to bring the cause to fruition.
Major donors were Community HealthNet Inc, Save More grocery store, Senior Care Insurance, 2nd District Councilman Michael Protho, Boost Mobile and Calumet Supply Co.
Others donors involved were Ultra Foods, Fresh County Market, attorney Rebecca Wyatt, Familia Dental, and Methodist Hospitals.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
