Ten different booths representing insurance companies, healthcare and even a lawn service were set up, and they offered information and a friendly smile — and sometimes even a snack or a free tote bag.

T-R Advertising Sales Representative Malette Glader said the 2022 rendition of the senior expo is approximately the 15th time the T-R has hosted, and she felt it was an important event for the community.

“It is just a great event. It’s an opportunity for a lot of either insurance companies, hospice, retired, assisted living, places like that, to get a chance to speak to seniors right in front of them,” Glader said. “They can come to their booth, they can sit and talk to them, take some pamphlets, some information, and get them interested in a place where they don’t have to drive from place to place.”

Megan DuBay, the care coordinator for the Ankeny based St. Croix Hospice, was glad to be able to spread information about the services available through St. Croix at the expo.

Several vendors at the Times-Republican Senior Expo offered snacks alongside information on Thursday morning, and Glenwood place offered freshly popped popcorn.

“I think the biggest thing is there’s a lot of resources out there for individuals who are aging, and they don’t necessarily realize it, so it’s a great opportunity for the aging seniors around here to come and see all the different resources that are available,” DuBay said.

Tyler Slagle with Assured Partners represented UnitedHealthcare at the expo, and since the annual Medicare enrollment date for individuals over 65 is coming up in October, he wanted to come out and help them with any issues they’re having signing up for the program.

“It’s just nice to come out and answer any questions that they have. We’ll see a lot of clients that walk through here as well, since we’re a local office here in town,” Slagle said. “It helps ease any concern that they have.”

A new business, Z Lawn Service, also had a booth at the event, and owner Benjamin Kosbau was excited to connect with possible new customers. Kosbau worked for a lawn care company in Marshalltown for about 10 years, and he’s hoping to bring excellent service to the table for new customers. The senior expo seemed like a good place to start.

“I’m just looking to gain more clientele, and to just branch out into Marshalltown,” Kosbau said.

Several other companies offering similar services were also in attendance, and in addition to talking with vendors, attendees also had the chance to register for door prizes. Four $50 Hy-Vee and Fareway gift cards were up for grabs, and at 1:30 p.m. attendees could join a bingo game. Bingo prizes included movie tickets, Dairy Queen coupons and other items.

Another T-R Senior Expo is in the books, and Glader hopes that next year’s event will be even bigger.

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Contact Susanna Meyer at 641-753-6611 or smeyer@timesrepublican.com.