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Living Life After 50
Elko Edition REaching ElkhaRt, kosciusko, noblE and lagRangE countiEs
July 2025
Vol. 38, No. 5
www.seniorlifenewspapers.com
FROM SCRAPS TO SOFTBACKS — Homemakers working on junk journaling during Camp ELKO.
THE ICING ON THE CAKE — Brenda Mestach demonstrates cupcake decorating at the Fall Holiday Program. All photos provided by Elkhart County Extension Homemakers.
Elkhart Homemakers make life ‘large and lovely’ By MAKSYM HART Staff Writer In Elkhart County, a network of women — and soon, a few men — are keeping homemaking traditions alive while adapting to modern needs. The Elkhart County Extension Homemakers, one of the largest groups of its kind in Indiana, has been offering fellowship, education and volunteer opportunities to local residents for nearly a century. Currently, the organization includes about 180 members across around 18 individual clubs, all operating under the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association and the Purdue University Extension Service. Clubs meet monthly to share life skills, learn about new topics, and work together on volunteer projects. “Our oldest club is 96 years old,” said Luanne Gressman-Dunn, the county organization’s membership chair. “And we’ve added four new clubs just this year, includ-
ing some focused on special interests like crochet and junk journaling.” Though historically focused on homemaking in the traditional sense, with topics like nutrition, sewing and cleaning, today’s clubs reflect a broader and more modern vision. Educational topics covered this year will include “Sleep On It,” “Stress and Your Health,” “Smart Choices for Dining Out,” and “Healing Through Grief.” These one-hour community lessons are taught at the Purdue Extension Office at the 4-H Fairgrounds and passed along to individual clubs for further discussion. Clubs vary widely in character. Some have a longstanding membership of women over 70, while others include younger members or serve as skill-sharing groups. One club, for instance, made 200 quilts for cancer patients last year. Another meets regularly to assemble blankets for the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Continued on page 2
LET’S DANCE — From left are Karen Honey, Lisa Stephens and Jen Chupp having fun at Camp ELKO.
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