Owls Club tries to bridge the gap between seniors and traveling by offering group excursions. Recently, some Owl Club members ventured to Fort Wayne to indulge in site seeing, famous coney dogs and other delicious treats. Photo provided.

By Marissa Sweatland
Staff Writer

ELKHART — “Our mission is very simple, it is to combat the loneliness epidemic we are seeing in the United States. We want to support our seniors and get them out of the house,” Maggie Okponobi, executive director of Owls Club, explained. “We want them to come and be social, no matter what that looks like for them. It could be as simple as coming and having a cup of coffee. We want to increase the health of seniors in our community.”

One of the classes offered in August was a step-by-step tutorial of how to build a bird house. Owls Club members work hard to ensure the integrity of their bird houses. Photo provided.

Located within the Trinity United Methodist Church, 2715 E. Jackson Blvd., Elkhart, Owls Club strives to improve the health and well-being of seniors 55 and better through purposeful opportunities for “service, lifelong learning, active play and social connection.”

Activities vary from day to day and month to month. September boasts a month of fun, engaging activities such as: chair cardio, lifelong learner’s league, poetry, line dancing, lunch bunch and various classes and support groups that touch on topics like the Constitution, the Bible and caregiver support.

Sue Burns, Owls Club member, works on her button art project, one of the many projects she has made during her time attending Owls Club. Photo provided by Owls Club.

“We find it really important, we being myself and our board members, income and money is not a barrier to our members,” Okponobi mentioned. “Our membership is free. Ninety-five percent of our classes are free to our members. If we do have to put a fee on a class, which is most likely to help offset class supply cost, we do our best to keep it under $10 per class.”

Monday through Friday, the Owls Club activity calendar is packed full of fun things for its members to try. Classes do require registration and can be done by popping into Owls Club or by calling (574) 336-2652 after signing up for the free membership.

“It is so important for humans to have social interaction, and beyond that, how are we using our brains?” Okponobi posed. “Friendships are built here. We have a group of members come to our Friday game time and will come, have a great time and then leave to go grab some dinner together. What’s built here reaches beyond the walls of the club.”

Owls Club opened its doors about a year ago, in early 2023, through private funding by two founders. Because of these funds, the Owls Club was able to hit the ground running and offer a plethora of activities, classes and groups from day one.

Marcia Namenye concentrates on decorating one of her cookies. Cookie decorating is one of the many creative classes seniors can challenge themselves with. Photo provided.

“We are very fortunate to have some of the funds still, as we head into our second year,” Okponobi explained. “We have just applied for our first grant. We received a matching grant, so now, with that grant, the funds will helps us reach year three. We also have to work hard since it is a matching grant. We do need those donations, both from our Owls community and outward community. This is a community-owned nonprofit.”

To become a member, seniors can fill out a paper application at the Owls Club, or tech-savvy seniors can visit owlsclub.org/membership/ to fill out the membership online. Once the form is submitted, whether in-person or online, an Owls Club volunteer will put together a “welcome packet” for the incoming Owl. The welcome packet includes a name tag, key tag and activity calendar.

To help break the ice, Owls Club hosts a new member mixer. At the new member mixer, Owls can pick up their welcome packet, meet each other and take a tour of the facility. The next new member mixer will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. For more information about the Owls Club, visit owlsclub.org or call (574) 336-2652.