The Southern Adirondack Independent
Living Center (SAIL) will hold a Harvest Gala
from 5:30 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Oct.
20, at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs.
The event will feature live and silent
auctions, 50/50 raffle, cocktails and sit-down
dinner and dancing. It benefits SAIL,
a non-profit corporation that relies heavily
on donations for continued operations.
SAIL recently received a state Department
of Health contract for the new Health
Benefit Exchange Navigator Program. The contract covers the counties of
Warren, Washington, Clinton and Essex
counties. Individuals, families and small
businesses with fewer than 50 employees
can be enrolled into its health care plans.
Jocelyn Blanchard of Hudson Falls, director of outreach services at SAIL, heads up the program. It will allow SAIL to offer services to more people in the counties they serve.
According to SAIL, it will promote independence and wellness in the community in an accessible, friendly format. The agents for the program are referred to as navigators. The navigators are independent agents attempting to pair clients with the most appropriate health insurance plan. There is no incentive to enroll people in any particular plan.
Officials said staff will be available nights and weekends.
Enrollment began Oct. 1. Those enrolled through December will be the first to have active insurance when the various insurance plans go into effect, SAIL officials said. More than 7,000 services were provided last year and the demand for assistance is growing, according to SAIL.
The organization has offices in Queensbury and Ballston Spa. Its mission is to promote the independence, equality and dignity of people with disabilities in all aspects of personal and community life.
Services provided through SAIL enable people with disabilities of any age to gain control over their lives through information and referral, assistive technology assessment and loan, peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy, independent living skills, computer and job readiness training, errand support and voter registration, officials said.
SAIL can do educational programs on a variety of insurance and disability issues, tailored specifically a company’s needs. For more information, to donate a basket or other item for the auction, or to volunteer at the event, contact Anna Livingston at SAIL at 792-3537.
For more information about SAIL’s new program, contact Blanchard at 792-3537 or by e-mail jblanchard@sail-center.org.