Wednesday, January 29, 2025
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Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties Know Your Neighbor . . . . . . . . . . . 2➤ Entertainment . . . 6-7
Vol. 54, No. 32
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
Cardinal Services seeing lives improved through
FITNESS CENTER Text and Photos By NATHAN PACE Staff Writer Cardinal Services in Warsaw has seen a lot of changes in its 70 years of existence but the goal it has for its fitness center is to see changes in lives. The fitness center opened last year and Executive Director Vickie Lootens said the center is quickly making an impact. “Everything revolves around health and that’s why health is one of our highest priorities because the individuals we serve, for many, have multiple health issues. That compromises your quality of life. The healthier an individual can be, the more opportunities and better quality of life they will have,” Lootens said. Cardinal Services, located at 504 N. Bay Drive, has been searching for more ways to serve local people with disabilities after the success of its RedBird Art Studio. The art studio was founded in 2016. Lootens said local artists were able to interact with those with disabilities and form real connections with them. Lootens hopes the fitness center will achieve the same objective when community members become more involved in the center. “Health in general is one of our highest priorities for the individ-
uals we serve and our employees,” Lootens said. “We want the community to come in. Whether it is to lead a fitness class or if they just want to exercise right alongside the people we serve.” One person benefiting from the fitness center is Warsaw resident, Rachel Matthews. Mathews plays basketball in Special Olympics. “I like to come out here and do my weight routine. I like doing squats. I’ve lost weight since this has been up and running,” Matthews said. Alex Cunningham is on staff at Cardinal Services and enjoys having a front row seat to how the fitness center is transforming lives. “Part of my job is to help schedule everything that we do here,” Cunningham said. “We do a lot of cardio drumming. I just enjoy watching the clients be so happy. We have a few clients who have a lot of health and wellness goals. We’ve seen them not only expand in healthy eating, but also in coming in here almost daily, which has been a pretty consistent thing across the board for them. My main thing is making sure these services are running smoothly.” Lootens said the two biggest activities in the fitness center usually are cardio drumming and lifting weights.
DRUM TO WELLNESS — Jennifer Ortiz takes part in a cardio drumming exercise at the fitness center, located at Cardinal Services in Warsaw. The fitness center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lootens said the fitness center sees roughly 100 visitors a week but opportunity is there to increase the number significantly. The fitness center is free and open to the public. Those interested are encouraged to call Michelle Boxell, community relations manager, at (574) 371-1387 to learn more. “There are many times where the club room is not full so we have the capacity for many more to come and exercise alongside those we serve,” Lootens said. Cunningham sees the fitness center as a place where people
POWER LIFTER — Rachel Matthews has a goal to lift 100 pounds while she receives advice from Cardinal Services staff member, Samantha Blosser, left. Matthews plays basketball in Special Olympics.
can exercise no matter where they are physically. “The big thing is it gives everybody an opportunity to do every-
thing at their own pace, and it’s just really awesome to see how happy they are when they come in here,” Cunningham said.
HANG TIME — Kim Holloway throws an exercise ball in the fitness center, located inside Cardinal Services in Warsaw.