Community Resources
Public Transportation
Senior Services
General Resources (A-L)
Aspen Ridge Retirement Village, 705-2500
Alcoholics Anonymous, 114 S. Center, Ste. 103, Gaylord; 732-0085 or 732-5541
Al-Anon, P.O. Box 336, Gaylord; 732-0085
Alpine Alten Zimmer Apartments, 120 Grandview Blvd., Gaylord; 732-1885
AARP, 309 N. Washington Square, Ste. 110, Lansing, MI 48933; 866-227-7448; fax 517-482-2794; www.aarp.org/mi
American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, 2966 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-578-6800; fax 313-578-6811; www.aclumich.org
American Cancer Society, 525 W. 14th St., Ste. 5, Traverse City, MI 49684; 800-227-2345 (24-hour emergency) or 231-947-0860; www.cancer.org
American Red Cross, 3454 W M-76, West Branch, MI 48661 Mitchell Park Drive, 800-691-6059, 989-343-1353
AIDS Hotline, 800-872-2437
ARC Michigan, a state organization on developmental disabilities, 1325 S. Washington Ave., Lansing, MI; 800-292-7851; www.arcmi.org
Arthritis Foundation, 1050 Wilshire Drive, Ste. 302, Troy, MI 48084-1564; 800-968-3030;
Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, P.O. Box 30213, Lansing, MI 48909; 517- 373-1140; toll-free 877-765-8388; www.michigan.gov/ag
Autism Society of Michigan, 1213 Center St. Ste. B, Lansing, MI 48906; 800-223-6722; 517-882-2800; fax 517-882-2816; www.autism-mi.org
Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan, 40 Pearl NW Ste. 354, Grand Rapids; 800-684-3222; www.grandrapids.bbb.org
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of North Central Michigan, P.O. Box 501, 114 N. Court Ave., Gaylord; 732-7780, fax 705-2611
Boys Town National Hotline, 13940 Gutowski Road, Boys Town, NE 68010; 800-448-3000; fax 402-498-1875
Camp Quality (Michigan), P.O. Box 345, Boyne City, MI; 231-582-2471; www.campqualitymi.org
Catholic Human Services, 2090 West M-3d2, Suite B, Gaylord; 732-6761; fax 732-6763
Cancer Society’s Road for Recovery transportation service, 116 E. Fifth St., Gaylord; 705-8584
Child & Family Services of Northeast Michigan, P.O. Box 516, 1044 US 23 North, Alpena, MI 49707; 989-356-4567
Child Find of America Inc., P.O. Box 277, New Paltz, NY 12561; 800-426-5678, fax 845-883-6614; www.childfindofamerica.org
Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan, 5455 Corporate Drive, Troy, MI; 800-825-2536; fax 248-353-3040
Citizens for Better Care, Nancy Turner, 1609 Park Drive, P.O. Box 5946, Traverse City, MI, 49686; 231-947-2504
Community Mediation Services, 116 Fifth St., Gaylord; 732-1576
Compassionate Friends Safe Harbor Chapter, Sue Taylor, 159 S. Estates Drive, Gaylord; 731-1933
Children Special Health Services, Pat Borowiak, 95 Livingston Blvd., Gaylord; 732-1794
Crossroads Industries, a nonprofit charity that puts mentally and physically challenged people to work, 2464 Silver Fox Trail, Gaylord; 732-1233
Crossroads Ministries, Inc./New Life Pregnancy Resource Center, P.O. Box 790, 705 S. Otsego Ave., Gaylord; 732-1626
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.), Michigan State Police Post, 563 S. Otsego Ave., Gaylord; 732-5141
DB-LINK (National information clearinghouse on children who are deaf/blind), 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth, OR; 800-438-9376; fax 503-838-8150; www.nationaldb.org
Easter Seals-Michigan Inc., 4065 Saladan Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI; 616-942-2081; fax 616-942-5932; www.essmichigan.org
Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, 20300 Civic Center Drive, Ste. 250, Southfield, MI; 800-377-6226; fax 248-351-2101; www.epilepsymichigan.org
Federal Tax Assistance; 800-829-1040
First Call For Help, 116 E. Fifth St., Gaylord; 732-8929, fax 731-2677
Friendship Shelter (for the homeless), 7163 Old 27 South, Gaylord; 732-5960
GreenPath Debt Solutions, 810 S. Otsego Ave., Ste. 105, Gaylord; 732-2260; 800-718-7077
Goodwill Industries, 505 S. Wisconsin Ave., Gaylord; 705-1747
Habitat for Humanity, 1384 W. Main St., Gaylord; 732-6070
Habitat for Humanity Restore, 1384 W. Main St., Gaylord; 731-4506
Hospice of Michigan, Donna Smith, 1723 M-32 West, Ste. B, Gaylord; 732-2151, or 800-449-5560
Insurance Information Hotline, 334 Townsend St., Lansing, MI; 800-777-8005
Kidney Foundation of Michigan, 1169 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor; 800-482-1455; fax 734-222-9801
Legal Services of Northern Michigan, 1349 S. Otsego Drive, Unit 7B, Gaylord; 888-645-9993; 705-1067; fax 705-7178
Lutheran Child & Family Services of Michigan, 2066 S. Otsego Ave., 989-732-1040
General Resources (M-Z)
Make-A-Wish Foundation, 230 Huron View Blvd., Ann Arbor; 800-622-9474; fax 734-994-8025
Michigan Association for Children with Emotional Disorders, 30233 Southfield Road, Ste. 219, Southfield; 248-433-2200; fax 248-433-2299; www.michkids.org
Michigan Association for Deaf, Hearing and Speech Services, 2929 Covington Ct., Ste. 200, Lansing; 800-968-7327
Michigan Commission for the Blind, 209 W. First St., Gaylord, MI; 732-2448
Michigan Council on Crime & Delinquency, Ste. 201, 115 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing, MI; 517-482-4161
Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Growth; 1165 Elkview, Lower Level, Ste 4, Gaylord; P.O. Box 1306, Gaylord; 732-6433
Michigan Dyslexia Institute (Northern Michigan Center), Ann Elise Mair, 681 East Lake St., Harbor Springs; 231-526-9282
Michigan Economic Development Corp., 300 N. Washington Square, Lansing; 888-522-0103
Michigan League for Human Services, 1115 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Ste. 202, Lansing, MI; 517-487-5436; fax 517-371-4546
Michigan Rehabilitation Services, 1165 Elkview, Lower Level, Ste 4, Gaylord; P.O. Box 1306, Gaylord; 732-6433
Michigan Small Business Development Center, Alpena, MI; 989-358-7375
MSU Cooperative Extension (Otsego County), 800 Livingston Blvd, Ste. 4A-2 Gaylord; 731-0272
Multiple Sclerosis Society Michigan Chapter Inc., 21311 Civic Center Drive, Southfield, MI; 800-243-5767; 248-350-0029
Muscular Dystrophy Association, 2133 University Park Drive, Ste. 400, Okemos, MI; 517-706-0348
Narcotics Anonymous, 732-0085 or 732-5541
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Hotline; 800-843-5678
National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence, Petoskey; 231-347-5511 or 888-880-5511
National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, 1169 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, MI; 800-482-1455; 734-222-9800
North Country Community Mental Health, 800 Livingston Blvd., Ste. 2B, Gaylord MI 49735; 732-6292; 24-hour crisis line 800-442-7315
Northern Michigan Substance Abuse Services, 1165 Elk View, Ste. 1, P.O. Box 1278, Gaylord; 732-1791 or 877-255-6226
Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency Inc., 2375 Gordon Road, Alpena, MI; 989-356-3474; 866-484-7077
Northeast Michigan Council of Governments, P.O. Box 457; 121 E. Mitchell St., Gaylord; 732-3551
Northern Michigan Shrine Club, David Ahearn, 809 West St., Gaylord; 732-9653
Organ Transplant Support Group of Northern Michigan, Bev Cherwinski, 6962 Cherwinski Road, Vanderbilt; 983-4188; www.nmichtransplants.org
Otsego County Animal Control, 200 E. Seventh St., Gaylord; 705-7632
Otsego County Commission on Aging, 120 Grandview Blvd., Gaylord; 732-1122; www.otsegocountycoa.org
Otsego County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 344, Gaylord; 731-0597; www.otsego.org/otsegofoundation
Otsego County EMS, P.O. Box 642, Gaylord; 732-9085
Otsego County Fair Board, P.O. Box 500, Gaylord; 732-3811
Otsego County Food Pantry, 116 E. Fifth St., Gaylord; 732-8929
Otsego County Housing Committee, 225 W. Main St., Gaylord, Room 213; 731-7570
Otsego County Resource Conservation & Development and Water Quality Committee, 800 Livingston Blvd., Ste. 4-A, Gaylord; 732-4021
Otsego County Soil Conservation District, 800 Livingston Blvd., Suite 4A, Gaylord; 732-4021
Otsego County United Way,116 E. Fifth St., Gaylord; 732-8929
Otsego County Veteran’s Affairs, 225 W. Main St., Room 213, Gaylord; 731-7575
Otsego Haus Adult Day Care Service, Chris Holewinski, 95 Livingston Blvd., Gaylord; 732-4121; fax 732-9662
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), 116 E. Fifth St., Gaylord; 732-6232
Ronald McDonald House, 1323 Cedar St., Grand Rapids; 800-776-4891, 616-776-1300
Salvation Army, 116 E. Fifth St., United Way Building, Gaylord; 731-5959
Services for the Developmentally Disabled, 800 Livingston, Ste. 2B, Gaylord; 732-6292
Social Security Administration, 525 Munson Ave., Traverse City; 231-946-8361
United Cerebral Palsy Association of Michigan, Ste. 216, 3401 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI; 800-828-2714
Victim/Witness Assistance Program, (Otsego County prosecutor’s office), 731-7431
Volunteer Center of Otsego County, Carol Rabineau, PO Box 1025, Gaylord; 705-8584
Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan Inc., 731-0918 or 800-275-1995
Yellow Ribbon Suicide Crisis Hotline (national), 800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433)
Public Transportation
Gaylord Regional Airport, 1100 Aero Drive, Gaylord; 732-4218. About 14,000 planes utilize the 6,600-by-150-foot runway each year; new terminal opened in 2007; www.gaylordregional.com
Otsego County Bus System; dispatch, 732-6224; transportation manager, Theron Higgins, 731-1204
Hours: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, call 732-6224; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, call 614-6109. If possible, reserve your ride two hours in advance. Rides may be scheduled in advance for doctor’s appointments, etc.
Straits Regional Ride: While Otsego County is no longer part of it, it’s possible for riders to connect to the Straits Regional Ride for transportation in Cheboygan, Emmet and Presque Isle counties. For scheduling, call 866-731-1204.
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Senior Services
Otsego County is home to a growing older adult population served by a host of local organizations. Key to these is the Otsego County Commission on Aging (OCCOA).
The mission of the OCCOA is promoting the independence and well-being of older adults of Otsego County and supporting family caregivers. This is accomplished by providing a diverse range of services that target nutritional, wellness, educational and social needs. The agency does this by employing both a professional, caring staff and enlisting the help of a volunteer corps, while diligently developing public and private funds to support the work of the agency in a proactive, progressive and cost efficient manner.
OCCOA services include congregate and home delivered meals, in-home services, adult day services, a reassurance call program, transportation to medical appointments, social and educational programs, volunteer opportunities, and information and assistance with referrals.
OCCOA also serves as a host site for the Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program, which helps beneficiaries understand benefits and coverage.
For information on OCCOA services call 989 732-1122 or visit the OCCOA Web site at www.OtsegoCountyCOA.org.
Other groups providing assistance to older adults include:
• Aspen Ridge Retirement Village is an assisted living facility that also offers Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Call 705-2500.
• Dept. of Human Services offers services to older adults in the areas of independent living,, adult protection and adult community placements. Call 732-1702.
• The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) meets the needs of seniors through meaningful volunteer opportunities. Call 732-6232.
• The Gaylord Lions Club’s primary mission is to help the blind, though the group also devotes time to projects that benefit senior citizens. To learn more, call 732-7840 or 732-2559.
• Otsego County Bus System provides rides at reduced prices to seniors. Call 732-6224.
Other services and assistance available for area seniors are provided by:
• Commission for the Blind, 732-2448
• District Health Dept., 732-1794
• Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program, 800-803-7174
• AARP Legislative Information Line, 800-826-8683
• Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, 800-347-LAWS (5297)
Guide 2010 » Community Resources
