Photos will be from 𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝟮 𝗽.𝗺. & 𝟮:𝟯𝟬-𝟰:𝟯𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟴-𝟮𝟵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟰. Please bring a camera.

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The Elkhart Gardens of Remembrance and Renewal, with its tranquil garden areas, walking paths and sitting spaces, offers an opportunity to keep memories of our loved ones alive. The bricks, inlaid into the path winding through the garden, are a lasting tribute to your loved one. In addition to memorializing a loved one, your gift helps us keep our promise that no one eligible for hospice services will be turned away, regardless of their ability to pay.

An annual ceremony is held at the Gardens of Remembrance the first Tuesday in June to dedicate new bricks donated throughout the year. This year’s event will be held on June 2. To those who have donated a memorial item at any of our facilities, thank you for your support! If you would like to donate an item at either of our campuses, please click the appropriate button below.

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Designed to support working families while providing children with a safe, engaging, and fun environment, YMCA programs focus on learning, confidence-building, physical activity, and social connection—all grounded in the Y’s mission to nurture the potential of every child. 

The YMCA of Greater Michiana offers two distinct preschool pathways at Benton Harbor-St. Joseph YMCA & Northside Child Development Center (Niles): 

• Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) — A FREE, state-funded preschool program for eligible four-year-olds offered at select YMCA locations.* 
• Tuition-based preschool programs — Serving children ages 2.5 to 4, with flexible scheduling options for families seeking high-quality early childhood education. Tuition-based preschool programs start at approximately $190 per month for YMCA members, with community rates beginning around $255 per month. Financial assistance is available to ensure cost is never a barrier for families seeking early learning opportunities. 

Program calendars and start dates for the 2026–2027 school year will be announced soon. 

To help families explore preschool options and meet program staff, the YMCA of Greater Michiana will host these upcoming open houses: 

Northside Child Development Center (Niles)
Thursday, March 5 | 5:00-7:00 PM 
➤ Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) – FREE preschool for four-year-olds* 
➤ 3-year old care & Montessori Program

Benton Harbor-St. Joseph YMCA
Thursday, March 12 | 5:00-7:00 PM
➤ Building Blocks Preschool (for ages 2.5 to 4)
➤ Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) – FREE preschool for four-year-olds* 

“Early learning plays a critical role in a child’s development,” said Michelle Skalla, YMCA Director, Great Start Readiness Program, and Northside Child Development Center. “Our preschool programs provide children with a strong foundation for learning while supporting families with trusted, high-quality care.” 

Also available through the YMCA of Greater Michiana: Summer Day Camp and youth programs are offered across multiple YMCA locations in Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana, providing families with trusted care and enrichment year-round. For full program details, registration timelines, and updates, visit www.ymcagm.org or call (269) 683-1552. 

About the YMCA of Greater Michiana 

YMCA of Greater Michiana is a nonprofit charitable organization 501(c)(3) that has worked collaboratively with community partners to improve the lives of children, adults, and families in southwest Michigan and northcentral Indiana for over 100 years. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships, and opportunities for all to learn, grow, and thrive. For more information, visit www.ymcagm.org. 

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“Our Cash Rewards Program makes it easy for members to get cash back for the things they already buy,” said Landry Wallar, Purdue Federal marketing specialist. “Every purchase on a Purdue Federal Visa credit card automatically earns points that can be instantly redeemed for cash or donated to support Purdue programs. Especially during this time of year, it’s our way of saying thank you and giving members a little extra back.”

Purdue Federal’s Cash Rewards Program is at the forefront of budget-friendly Christmas spirit. Members earn rewards on every purchase without category restrictions, with redemption options including cash deposits into checking or savings accounts or charitable donations. Depending on card type and My Member Perks status, members can earn up to 2% cash back year-round. The program is automatically included with its Visa credit cards.

During a special holiday promotion running through December 31, Purdue Federal is offering cardholders the opportunity to earn up to 5% cash back on eligible purchases, helping to offset seasonal expenses. Members can also track spending in real time and set alerts through Purdue Federal’s mobile app to stay within budget.  

As Christmas is around the corner, Purdue Federal encourages shoppers to start with a realistic holiday budget by listing anticipated expenses, such as gifts, travel, food and decorations, and setting spending limits for each category. Rather than limited enjoyment, a clear-cut budget can help families make good spending decisions and avoid surprises when January arrives.

Thoughtful planning allows customers to take advantage of seasonal sales, retailer loyalty programs and online promotions. Purdue Federal suggests thinking creatively when it comes to gift-giving, perhaps with an emphasis on meaningful experiences or personalized items over costly material goods. 

Travel and decorating costs can also add up quickly during the holiday season. When booking travel, remain flexible with dates and research affordable dining and transportation options. When adorning your home as a Christmas wonderland, Purdue Federal encourages repurposing items from previous years, embracing do-it-yourself projects or waiting for post-holiday sales to prepare for future seasons. 

The credit union also promotes responsible credit card use as a valuable tool for holiday spending. Used wisely, credit cards can provide convenience and rewards without creating long-term debt. Purdue Federal advises members to treat credit cards as part of their budgeting strategy and to monitor spending regularly and to pay balances in full each month.

With a strong philosophy rooted in people helping people, Purdue Federal emphasizes financial wellness as a year-round priority. During the most spending-fueled time of the year, the credit union believes that combining practical budgeting advice with rewards-driven tools will create a meaningful holiday season without sacrificing long-term financial health. 

For more information about Purdue Federal Credit Union, visit purduefed.com.

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Melina Dixon, manager of Volunteer Services at Powers Health, looks forward every year to seeing the tree light up with angels at this event, which raises money for the St. Mary Medical Center Auxiliary Scholarship Fund.

“This tree transforms remembrance into future care,” Dixon said. “Each angel honors a life, and each scholarship invests in a future caregiver. It’s a beautiful event honor your loved ones.”

The donations to the Angel Tree of Lights program have been beneficial for healthcare students in Northwest Indiana. Donations present an opportunity for people to place an angel on the tree and take one home with them.

Kerri Tillema, director of Mission Integration and Volunteers at Powers Health, is remembering her dad and her grandfather at this year’s event.

“During this time of year, it can be really difficult for people in the hospital and for those who have lost loved ones,” Tillema said. “It brings us all together to take a moment to remember our loved ones for the holidays. They’re always with us.”

While an event like this can be filled with sorrow, the joy of creating connections with others who are going through the same thing during the holiday season can alleviate the feeling, she said. It also aligns with Powers Health’s mission to serve the needs of all people; in this case, the need for family and togetherness.

“Part of our organizational mission involves system values and our community,” Tillema said. “We get to raise money for the St. Mary Medical Center Auxiliary Scholarship Fund. If they’re going into the medical field, they can apply for one of our scholarships. It’s also about reinvesting in our employees because it gives them a chance to further their education.”

Powers Health has seen this event grow over the years. The organization hopes to keep recognizing more angels for many years to come.

“We hope to keep funding the scholarship and continue drawing a great turnout for this event,” Tillema said. “It’s important to keep people in our thoughts and prayers during the holiday season who are going through difficult times.”

For more information on Powers Health, visit powershealth.org.

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In 2023, McAfee Animal Hospital worked with owners Vancauwelaert and Ono Olivadoti, and their two dogs, Faux Pas and Brigitta. The two dogs had been inseparable their entire lives, including when the couple adopted them. After months of working with McAfee Animal Hospital, the doctors helped both dogs become cancer-free.

Near the end of the year, things took a turn for the worse as Brigitta suddenly got short of breath. After rounds of surgery and chemotherapy, it was discovered that Brigitta was in the 4% of dogs experiencing a rare side effect of damage to the heart via chemotherapy. She handled the chemotherapy like a champion before passing away on December 29, 2023.

While it was a blessing that Brigitta passed peacefully at home and free of cancer, it was a hard pill to swallow, especially for her lifelong sister and litter mate, Faux Pas. When the family went to the crematorium for Brigitta, they received her ashes and went out together on New Year’s Eve.

“The three of us went with Brigitta’s ashes to one of the breweries we used to go to, so it was really the four of us,” Vancauwelaert said. “We wanted to spend a little more time with her.”

One month later, another hurdle would enter the scene. When Faux Pas was brought in to McAfee Animal Hospital for a regular checkup, Dr. Brooke McAfee noticed a tumor on her spleen.

Faux Pas underwent a procedure to have her spleen removed, as the tumor was an aggressive form of splenic cancer. Understanding the history of Brigitta’s situation, along with Faux Pas having a smaller tumor, Vancauwelaert wanted to be a bit more conservative this time. 

“We tried some natural and herbal remedies,” Vancauwelaert said. “We had mushroom powder for the food, along with some herbal pills to give to Faux Pas. We just kept a close eye on her to see how that went, following that regiment for close to a year.”

As of today, Faux Pas has shown tremendous improvement in her health. Her blood work and routine checkups kept coming back with positive results, and the family helped her stay up-to-date on vaccines. The family has still been giving her mushroom powder, but has stopped with some of the herbal medicines.

“She’s been doing great; she will be 13 next month,” Vancauwelaert said. “Dr. Brooke has called her a miracle dog given everything that has happened. We know that Brigitta is watching out for her as a guardian angel. She’s an extremely playful and loving dog. We take her to daycare, on vacations, and she even goes out to the bars with us. She’s done a few costume contests as well.”

The most recent routine checkup for Faux Pas was December 5, 2025. She came back with great blood work, staying the course as she continues to live a healthy life as much as possible. Vancauwelaert has considered McAfee Animal Hospital to be a blessing when it comes to looking out for their dogs and helping them feel better.

“The genuine concern that Dr. Brooke and the McAfee team have had for our dogs has been the biggest thing for us,” Vancauwelaert said. “It isn’t a one-sided ordeal either, because Dr. Brooke is very engaged with our pets and wants to check in for updates every so often. A few years ago, we donated a bell for cancer survivors to ring in celebration, so we sometimes get to see or hear about when people ring the bell. We’re very happy to work with this team.”

While the loss of Brigitta has been an adjustment for Faux Pas and the entire family, the bond between the sisters is something that will never be lost. 

“Nobody ever wants to hear about a cancer diagnosis or the discovery of a tumor,” Vancauwelaert said. “Being able to navigate the path forward with your goals and desires being at the front of the mind and the support by everybody involved has been incredible.”

For more information on McAfee Animal Hospital, you can visit mcafeeah.com.

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In 2017, Belvedere Senior Housing opened its doors to give seniors an opportunity to enjoy an active community that maintains the health, wellness, dignity, and independence of every resident. The staff make it a focal point to create this environment through fun events like this traditional trunk-or-treat. Last year’s event was a huge success, but this year’s attendance proved Belvedere Senior Housing is a part of NWI’s Halloween tradition!

Belvedere Senior Housing’s team members have been getting everything prepared for this year’s events for the past several weeks. Along with having a committed group of staff members to set up the trunk-or-treat, the organization has also received donations from businesses and other community members. Sales and Marketing Director Andrea Puente is always up for an opportunity to showcase the Halloween spirit as part of the Belvedere Lifestyle.

“We’re so proud that every event is bigger than the year prior,” Puente said. “This is just an opportunity for us to open our doors to the community so they can see what life is like for our residents here. It’s overwhelming heartwarming to see our residents showing off their family and friends and making new friends!”

The residents participated in both handing out the candy and getting in line to fill up their own bags. Many of them were able to celebrate with family members and friends who don’t reside at Belvedere. The event provided free food and drinks for everybody who came out.

Puente is grateful that this event has become a staple for Belvedere Senior Housing. Many of the residents have been talking about the trunk-or-treat since shortly after last year’s event concluded. She admires how it helps the residents celebrate the fall season with the people they care about the most.

“Our residents are super excited. A lot of them have their grandchildren, great grandchildren, and entire family coming. Many have offered to volunteer handing out candy. They love to be a part of everything we do here.”

While the ultimate prize for this event is walking away with a bag full of candy, the trunk-or-treat also serves as an opportunity for attendees to become more familiar with the event vendors. Kids could enjoy the bounce house after they filled up their candy bags, and a Biggs Production helped mix the tracks throughout the evening. “My husband volunteered his services this year because he enjoys spending time with our residents and he also looks forward to the trunk-or-treat here,” said Business Office Manager, Jeannette Grier.

“It gives everyone a sense of safety knowing that we’re the ones who purchase or collect donations for candy. We’re very fortunate for our community partners who contributed nearly 500 pounds of candy! That was a huge support,” Puente said. “What makes our trunk-or-treat event so great is that we have something for everybody here.”

Despite this year being one of the colder trunk-or-treat events that Belvedere has hosted, the atmosphere was filled with chilling scares and smiles. The team at Belvedere Senior Housing is looking forward to more big events at the facility for the holiday season.

“Not only do our residents always look forward to this, but also families in the area,” Puente said. “It’s fun, safe, and a great way for our chef, Kristen LaPorte to show off her cooking skills. It’s also a great way for the Merrillville Police Department to come support the community as well. This year, The Winemac Old Auto Club brought in their classic cars, too! We’re always happy that people put our events on their calendars for the upcoming years. Participation increases year over year.”

Vendors at the event included Regional Health Systems, NorthShore Health Centers, and CoAction.

For more information on Belvedere Senior Housing, you can check out its Facebook page.

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