OLLI Winter 2026_pageturn - Flipbook - Page 8
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central
Illinois
Monday, February 16
11:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central
Illinois (RMHC) opened the Peoria House
in December 2019 to provide a welcoming,
supportive place for families while their child
receives medical care. In addition, they support
programs that directly improve the health and
well-being of children throughout the region.
During our visit, we will learn more about the
mission, stories of families served, and plans for
future program growth. During our tour, we'll
hear how the building’s design was shaped by
the needs of families and get to see the incredible
artwork throughout the House, created entirely
by local artists. Elieen Setti, the chief operating
of昀椀cer for RMHC Central Illinois, will also share
research on family-centered care and how Ronald
McDonald House Charities, on a global level, is
adapting its care model to re昀氀ect these 昀椀ndings.
$35 – includes guided tour, lunch at a local
restaurant, gratuities, and shuttle transportation.
Seats available: 28
Activity Level 2
All of Level 1 requirements, plus be able to stand
for over an hour, climb some 昀氀ights of stairs, and
walk on uneven surfaces.
Sophia’s Kitchen and St. Joseph’s Church
Tuesday, January 6
11:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sophia’s Kitchen feeds 500 people each day. Join
OLLI as we visit this kitchen, staffed by a dedicated
group of volunteers who make hundreds of
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches daily! We’ll
昀椀nd out where they get their food donations and
how they serve Peoria’s homeless, unemployed,
and underemployed. Under the direction of the
Catholic diocese, Sophia’s Kitchen is located next
to historic St. Joseph’s Church. After our visit with
Sophia’s Kitchen, we’ll visit St. Joseph’s Church, a
house of worship built in 1878 that features an 1896
Lancashire Marshall organ.
$35 – includes guided tours, lunch at a local
restaurant, and shuttle transportation.
Seats available: 28
Peoria County Coroner
Thursday, January 22
8:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Join us as we meet our Peoria County Coroner,
Jamie Harwood, at his new of昀椀ce in the Peoria
County building. Our visit to the new location on
Sheridan Road will include a discussion about why
the coroner investigates a death, what a typical
day is like, a tour of the autopsy room and morgue,
and a question and answer period. Harwood, a
Certi昀椀ed Forensic Nurse, will also discuss how the
of昀椀ce provides advocacy for the survivors, justice
for the deceased, and a determination of cause and
manner of death with the most ef昀椀cient, evidencebased, best-practice methods.
$35 – includes guided tour, lunch at a local
restaurant, gratuities, and shuttle transportation.
Seats available: 28
Dr. Bob Ballard kept
the crowd rapt as he
shared insights from
discovering the Titanic.
8
LEARNING TRIPS
