INTERLINK'S ACTIVITIES FROM THE PAST YEAR.

Mark Havens, Executive Director, provided a brief summary of Interlink's core programs from the past year.

Volunteers - Our work was done by about 50 volunteers, most of them retired with an average age of 71, donating 1,682 hours to help fellow LC Valley seniors.

Programs – Our volunteers built 10 wheelchair ramps, installed 16 handrails and grab bars, drove 177 local seniors on 1,981 rides to 153 valley destinations totaling 16,204 miles.

Key Census Update – Between 2020 & 2024, the over age 65 population in the LC Valley grew by 17.4%, while the under age 18 population grew by just 2.7%. Not only is the over age 65 population the fastest growing cohort in the valley, it is the only growing cohort among all of the age groups. 

In response to “Silver Tsunami” of seniors, Interlink has taken steps to expand our reach with transportation plans to serve all of Nez Perce County and will be launching a “Care for the Caregiver Program” later this year. 

TRISTATE HEALTH PARTNERS WITH  INTERLINK SENIOR SERVICES

Kym Clift, CEO of TriState Health, was the keynote speaker at Interlink’s Anniversary Luncheon.  She said, 

“The theme of today’s luncheon –‘Creating the community we all want to age into’ – 

resonates with not only my own beliefs, but also those of the TriState Health organization. Because the reality is, our community is aging, and that shift brings both challenges and opportunities.”

Organizations like Interlink know something incredibly important about the Lewis-Clark Valley - the understanding that taking care of people is a shared responsibility, not just within families, but across our neighborhoods, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, businesses, and volunteers. That’s why partnerships with organizations like Interlink matter so much to TriState Health.  

IS AGING A COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY? 

John Sullivan, President of the Interlink Board of Directors, spoke about the heavy challenges to government revenues, non-profit funding and business profits that brings us to a common realization….

“We must all find ways to help each other by building closer relationships, cooperate and share resources, tell our stories through regular communications, and invest in our community for the common good.”  

Based on that common realization, Interlink found itself in a position to “pitch a larger tent” over all senior services needed by the LC Valley seniors. 

VISION, MISSION, VALUES.  It started with our board of directors’ retreat that created an expanded vision, a broadened mission statement and a statement of our values…      

OUR VISION: Creating the community we all want to age into      

OUR MISSION: To “link” seniors to volunteers, programs and community resources to live independent, safe, healthy, and socially rewarding lives.

OUR VALUES: We believe that aging is a community responsibility

Interlink is building our infrastructure with digital tools to support the senior community, using a wholistic approach that includes communications of helpful information and connections to all locally available senior programs. To facilitate community engagement, we needed to create a new website and manage our constituency relationships with a CRM database/email program specifically designed for non-profits. 

We are beginning now to launch both software programs and be able to send regular communications by email, text and e-Newsletters. 

WHY I SUPPORT INTERLINK.

Next to the podium was Josh Brown, manager of  Les Schwab Tires, Lewiston Orchards branch.  

Josh and Les Schwab became a Community Partner of Interlink more than a year ago.  Josh explained why he provides sustaining support to Interlink.  

He said, "giving back to the community is a guiding principle for him personally as well as for Les Schwab". 

Partnering with Interlink is a win-win, in that Les Schwab provides services needed by Interlink volunteers and LC Valley seniors. By providing free oil changes to volunteer drivers he can encourage and reward volunteerism and by providing regular donations to Interlink he can support the programs that help all seniors.  

Josh encouraged everyone to give what they can for Interlink’s mission –

• Be a volunteer and encourage others to pay-it-forward with time and resources.
• Be a sustaining partner by making regular annual or monthly donations.
• Have your business be a Community Partner with Interlink with annual or regular monthly financial support.
• Consider serving on the Interlink Board of Directors or limit your service to being an advisor on an Interlink committee.