Hundreds of area seniors attended the third annual Carbon County Senior expo on Thursday at Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall.

The program was a chance for seniors to learn about the programs and services available to them, and to get their questions answered about local resources.The event was jointly hosted by State Sens. David Argall and John Yudichak, and State Rep. Doyle Heffley."The goal is to provide a host of services, all under one roof," said Sen. Argall.He noted that it can be difficult to find the agency that best meets a person's needs, and then to wait in line or on the phone to get answers to questions. The expo allows seniors to find all of the agencies they might need to speak with in one place."We represent a lot of senior citizens, and know that it can be very confusing to get answers. That's why we do this program," he said. "The reaction to this event has been very positive."Representatives from more than 40 vendors from local, county, and state agencies gathered to speak with seniors attending the expo.Vendors ranged from those offering home health care to local hospitals and health networks, medical supply companies, banking and financial advisers, PennDOT and AARP, and support for veterans."It's important to bring all of the agencies that our seniors need right here, to their backyard," said Yudichak.He noted that the event was also a time to socialize and enjoy a meal with friends. Free hot dogs and treats were available for all who attended."It's like a family picnic, with everyone trying to help each other. We put politics aside for this day and work together," he said.Heffley also took the time to thank the sponsors of the event, noting that a program of this size wouldn't be possible without dedicated sponsors or the many vendors who took part."This is going to get needed information out to people," he added. "We've had a really positive response."