Eight themed dinner dances are held each year, offering seniors the opportunity to enjoy a delicious family-style meal and an evening of live entertainment with family, friends and neighbors.

Dinner dance tickets go on sale at 8:00 a.m. on a specified date and are sold on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets are limited to 10 per person and are non-transferable. In the event of a cancellation, a full refund will be given prior to the refund deadline on the ticket. After the deadline, refunds will be given only if the ticket can be resold to someone on the waiting list.

Orland Township invites all senior residents to participate in upcoming dinner dances, a great time is sure to be had!

Orland Township, in conjunction with the Orland Park Library, provides residents with an opportunity to sign up for library cards and borrow books and DVDs during Orland Township’s regularly scheduled Drop-In Center.

The Orland Park Library brings book carts to the Activity Center on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Take advantage of this great opportunity and borrow a good book, whether it’s a good mystery, romance novel or work of non-fiction.

Reading is an essential life skill and there are many benefits that go along with it. Research indicates that avid readers are able to concentrate more closely and process new information more easily while leading successful and fulfilling adult lives. Readers are also shown to have a larger variety of interests and an ability to understand how other people think and feel, while also displaying a tendency to be more flexible in their thinking and more open to new ideas. Those who read often are also thought to weather personal problems better. Stimulate your mind, read, read, read!

SENIORS… Are you receiving all the benefits you are entitled to? Are you aware of all governmental programs and services available to persons over the age of 60? Let Orland Township assist with BCU- the Benefits Check-Up program. It’s a free and confidential service that informs residents about benefits and programs that they may be entitled to, such as Circuit Breaker and Illinois Cares Rx, Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral, Spousal Impoverishment, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Senior Homestead Exemption and chore/housekeeping services.

The BCU form is a simple document that asks for the ages of household members, monthly income, asset information, sources of other income, major household expenses, medical expenses, home ownership status and other relevant data. One will then receive a printout that lists, not only the benefits one may be entitled to, but also an individual fact sheet, which gives application information for each benefit program.

Call today or stop in for a BCU application. Simply complete the information and return the form for processing, Orland Township is here to help seniors receive the benefits they are entitled to but are not currently receiving.

All senior residents (55 years and older) are encouraged to register for a permanent identification number. Proof of residency is required to obtain an ID card. Identification numbers are used to purchase event tickets and for senior transportation purposes.

The Orland Township Senior Council serves as an advisory board, making recommendations to the Orland Township Board of Trustees regarding senior programs and services.  The meetings are held quarterly at the Orland Township Activity Center. For additional information, call (708) 403-4222.

Therapy dogs are available to visit with members of the Senior Drop-In Center. A therapy dog is trained to provide comfort and affection to those in need, as well as create an increased calmness.

Each dog is friendly, gentle, patient and comfortable in any given situation. All participating dogs are up-to-date on vaccinations and physicals and are certified members of Touch of Healing Dogs, which requires a strict certification process.

When visiting Orland Township, the dogs are accompanied by their permanent handler. For additional information, please call (708) 403-4222.