McKenzie Health System Kicks Off 2026 “Healthy Living Together” Series with Budgeting & Debt Reduction Strategies

McKenzie Health System is pleased to launch its 2026 Healthy Living Together series with the first event of the year on January 21, featuring Aileen Simons, Director of Member Advocacy and Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) at Team One Credit Union. Simons will present “Budgeting & Debt Reduction Strategies,” offering practical tools and insights to help community members strengthen their financial well-being in the new year.

The Healthy Living Together series provides free, monthly educational sessions designed to support the health and wellness of individuals and families in Sanilac County and beyond. Each session is held in person from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the McKenzie Dining Room, with a virtual option available.

Below is the full 2026 schedule:

January 21: Budgeting & Debt Reduction Strategies
Aileen Simons, Team One Credit Union, Director of Member Advocacy and Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC)

February 18: Menopause Matters: Thriving Through the Change, Trisha Ameel, MSN, RN, FNP-C, McKenzie Health System

March 18: Bread Making – Sourdough, Mary Gilbert, Community Member

April 15: Talking is Teaching, Julia Albrecht, Director, Great Start Collaborative

May 20: Fairy Garden Workshop, Jen Gezequel, Community Member & Fairy Garden Expert

June 17: Cooking with Kids, Chef Aaron Puzan, Autumnwood of Deckerville

July 15: Preserving MI Harvest: Preserving Summer Fruit, Laurie Messing, Food Safety Educator, MSU Extension

August 19: Digital Safety for Seniors – Avoiding Scams, Thumb Bank & Trust: Kelly Gerstenberger, Market President; Holly Bonesteel, Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager; Tabitha Ellul, Business Development Specialist

September 16: Stop the Bleed, Hands Only CPR, & Home Firearm Safety, Morgan Fraley BSN, RN, Stop the Bleed Specialist; Melissa Govea, American Heart Association CPR Instructor; Steve McKenney, Sandusky Chief of Police

October 21: Aging Well - Staying Connected & Resilient, Kelli Braun, Stonegate Village Assisted Living

November 18: Estate Planning Basics – Wills, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Ladybird Deed, and More, Michael Rolando, Attorney, Biddinger, Schrot & Rolando, PC

All sessions, which include both an in-person and virtual option, are open to the public and free to attend.

For more information, visit www.McKenzieHealth.org/Healthy-Living or call 810-648-6127.

Healthy Living Together is a collaborative project developed by McKenzie Health System in partnership with the Sanilac County Health Department, MSU Extension, Great Start Collaborative Sanilac, and Sanilac County Community Mental Health. The series is designed to offer helpful tools, knowledge, and resources that support the health and wellness of individuals and families throughout Sanilac County.