The Mission of Senior Connections is to recruit, train and support volunteers who visit and befriend isolated older adults in the Evanston community.

We are a friendly visiting program that for nearly 21 years has paired isolated older adults in Evanston with caring volunteers from the community to form ongoing friendships. There is no cost to any senior for becoming involved with Senior Connections.

Looking for opportunities to bridge cross generations and cultures, experience living history, give a helping hand, or gain a new friend? Check out the Becoming a Volunteer page. If you are a senior and you would like a new friend, click Getting a Visitor to find out more.

Senior Connections has been a vital resource for isolated older adults in the Evanston Commmunity for over 20 years. Started as a ministry of Reba Place Church, this year Senior Connections became a stand-alone nonprofit.  While we still enjoy the support of Reba Place Church through their gift of free office space, Senior Connections is increasingly engaged with others who are engaged with the older population of Evanston - our bearers of tradition and experience. We have over 100 volunteers who, in addition to meeting weekly in one-on-one friendships, help support Senior Connections in countless other ways.

Our sponsors:  Limelight Catering: Food Illuminated; The Copy Room; Saville Florist; The Crystal Cave

Senior Connections staff consist of:

Barbara J. Sittler L.C.S.W.; M. Div., our Executive Director who has over 20 years of experience working with the elderly. Barbara is a twelve-year resident of Evanston and did her undergraduate work in Theology at Loyola University of Chicago and her graduate work at the University of Chicago Divinity School and School of Social Service Administration.

Barbara delights in engaging with the Evanston community to build a network of trust and support that promotes volunteerism with our richest resource; the elderly among us.

Wendy Klinkner L.C.S.W. is our Director of Volunteers and has been with Senior Connections for 19 years and has over 23 years working with the elderly.  Wendy is a long-time resident of Evanston and did her undergraduate work at Ohio Weslyan and her graduate work at Loyola University.

Wendy thoroughly enjoys her role as "matchmaker" and seeing the blessings and richness that comes from friendships crossing generational lines.