Community Resources
Public Transportation
Senior Services
General Resources (A-L)
• AARP, 309 N. Washington Square, Ste. 110, Lansing MI 48922; 866-227-7448; fax 517-482-2794; www.aarp.org/mi
• AIDS Hotline 800-872-2437
• Alcoholics Anonymous, 114 S. Center Ste. 103, Gaylord; 732-0085 or 732-5541
• Alpine Alten Zimmer Apartments, 120 Grandview Blvd., Gaylord; 732-1885
• 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 Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, 2966 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-578-6800; fax 313-578-6811; www.aclumich.org
• American Red Cross, 2350 Mitchell Park Drive, Petoskey ; 231-348-7666; fax 231-348-7661 www.redcrossblood.org
• 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; 248-649-2891
• Attorney general, Consumer Protection Division, P.O. Box 30213, Lansing, MI 48909; 517-241-3771; toll-free 877-765-8388; www.michigan.gov/ag
• Autism Society of Michigan, 2178 Commons Parkway, Okemos, MI, 48864; 517-822-2800, toll-free 800-223-6722, fax 517-822-2816; www.autism-mi.org
• Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan, 40 Pearl NW Ste. 354, Grand Rapids; 616-774-8236, toll-free 800-684-3222; www.grandrapids.bbb.org
• Big Brothers, Big Sisters of North Central Michigan, 230 Huron St. Grayling; 989-344-5112
• 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; 877-226-7341; www.campqualitymi.org
• Cancer Society’s Road for Recovery transportation service, 800-227-2345
• Catholic Human Services, 2090 West M-32, Ste. B, Gaylord; 732-6761; fax 732-6763
• Child & Family Services of Northeast Michigan, 1044 US-23 North Alpena, MI 49707; 989-354-8089
• Child Find of America Inc., P.O. Box 277, New Paltz, NY 12561; 800-426-5678, fax 845-883-6614; www.childfindofamerica.org
• Children Special Health Services, Pat Borowiak, 95 Livingston Blvd., Gaylord; 732-1794
• Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan, 5455 Corporate Drive Ste. 306, Troy, MI; 248-530-3000; fax 248-530-3041
• 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, 1649 M-32 East, Gaylord; 732-5027
• 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
• DB-LINK (National information clearinghouse on children who are deaf/blind), CMU, Sloan 105, Mount Pleasant; 888-758-0508; www.nationaldb.org
• Easter Seals-Michigan Inc., 4065 Saladin Drive SE, Grand Rap-ids, 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 Housing Center (for the homeless), 7163 Old 27 South, Gaylord; 732-5960
• Goodwill Industries, 1361 Pineview Drive, Gaylord; 705-1747
• GreenPath Debt Solutions, 440 West Main St., Ste. C, Gaylord; 732-2260; 800-550-1961
• Habitat for Humanity Restore, 1384 W. Main St., Gaylord; 731-4506
• Habitat for Humanity, 1384 W. Main St., Gaylord; 732-6070
• Harbor Hall inc., substance abuse patient facility, 520 N. Main St. Cheboygan; 231-597-9235
• 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; 517-371-2880
• 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 Ave., Unit 7B, Gaylord; 888-645-9993; 705-1067; fax 705-7178
General Resources (M-Z)
• Make-A-Wish Foundation, 648 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 104, Grand Rapids; 877-631-9474; fax 616-363-5415
• 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, 586-778-4186
• Michigan Commission for the Blind, 209 W. First St., Gaylord, MI; 732-2448
• Michigan Council on Crime & Delinquency, 1000 W. St. Joseph, Ste 400, Lansing; 517-482-4161
• Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Growth; 608 W. Allegan St., Lansing; 517-373-3332
• Michigan Dyslexia Institute (Northern Michigan Center), 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, 1223 Turner St., Ste. G-1, Lansing; 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, 665 Johnson St., Alpena; 800-562-4808
• 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; 248-351-2190
• Muscular Dystrophy Association, 1605 Concentric Blvd., Ste. 3, Saginaw; 989-771-9612
• Narcotics Anonymous, 732-0085 or 732-5541
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Hotline; 800-843-5678
• North Country Community Mental Health, 800 Livingston Blvd., Ste. 2B, Gaylord MI 49735; 732-6292; 24-hour crisis line 800-442-7315
• Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency Inc., 2375 Gordon Road, Alpena, MI; 989-356-3474; 866-484-7077
• Northeast Michigan Council of Governments, 80 Livingston Blvd., Ste. 8, Gaylord; 989-705-3730
• Northern Michigan Shrine Club, David Ahearn, 809 West St., Gaylord; 732-9653
• Northern Michigan Substance Abuse Services, 2090 W. M-32, Ste. C, Gaylord; 800-686-0749, fax 731-3437
• Organ Transplant Support Group of Northern Michigan, Bev Cherwinski, 6962 Cherwinski Road, Vanderbilt; 983-4188; www.transplantliving.org
• Otsego County Animal Control, 365 Fairview Road, 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 Conservation District, 800 Livingston Blvd., Suite 4A, Gaylord; 732-4021
• 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 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; 800-776-1300, fax 616-776-0368
• Salvation Army, 116 E. Fifth St., United Way Building, Gaylord; 731-5959
• Services for the Developmentally Disabled, 800 Livingston Blvd., Ste. 2B, Gaylord; 732-6292
• Social Security Administration, 308 State St., Ste. 8, Petoskey; 231-347-0692
• United Cerebral Palsy Association of Michigan, 4970 Northwind Drive, Ste. 102, East Lansing; 800-828-2714
• Victim/Witness Assistance Program, (Otsego County prosecutor’s office), 800 Livingston Blvd., Ste. 3-D, Gaylord; 731-7430
• Volunteer Center of Otsego County, 590 E. Fifth St., Box 7, Gaylord; 705-8584
• Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan Inc., 423 Porter St., Petoskey; 231-347-0067
• 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; 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, ext. 1; 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 231-597-9262
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, 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 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.
• 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)
