Hundreds of seniors came out Thursday morning for the annual Senior Expo at Memorial Hall in Jim Thorpe. They started lining up long before the doors opened at 10 a.m. The line eventually stretched down the parking lot among the cars.

The annual event is organized by Sen. John Yudichak, D-Luzerne/Carbon; state Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, and their staff members."Carbon County has a high population of seniors. This is a great opportunity to get federal, state and county agencies together under one roof at one time," Yudichak said."We want to make sure that seniors are getting every service they are eligible for. It's very informative. I think this is what is so important about the Carbon Senior Expo.""Each table has their own new information and that's why I like to come each year," said Joan Shive of Tresckow. "Great opportunity to learn."Elaine Micelli of Penn Forest Township agreed and said she comes each year to the expo, "to see what there is for us. I just want to find out what I missed."Pat Whalen said she likes to come for the free hot dogs and flu shot. The event is kind of like trick-or-treating for seniors, she said.This year, there were 54 vendors and many of them were giving something away - pamphlets, pens, notepads, tote bags and of course candy.Terri Nasatka, a marketing manager for Bayada Home Health Care, said, "It's nice to get out with seniors because these services directly affect them." She said the company attends similar events in every county they serve.Bayada caregivers include nurses, therapists, medication managers, home health aides and medical social workers. Their services are covered 100 percent under Medicare Part A, Nasatka said.And what would a senior expo be without AARP?Rosemarie Osborn, the Northampton County coordinator for AARP, manned a table with two other women from the organization."Because Carbon County doesn't have a representative for AARP, we are trying to get people aware of what we have to offer."Mary Jane Long, the regional lead for the Lehigh Valley, said, "We would like to form a volunteer team to help the Carbon County area with education and advocacy information."The team of volunteers would organize and schedule the events.People can join AARP once they have turned 50 years old, Osborn said. The organization provides information on a variety of topics including financial and retirement planning, advice on juggling caregiving and work, job search resources, prescription savings, brain health, vacation and hotel savings and more.Wayne Arner of Lehighton couldn't name just one thing he likes about the Senior Expo. "It's just everything," he said.Marie Gallagher of Lansford summed it up. "It's a great get-together we look forward to each year."