From WOOD COUNTY COMMITTEE ON AGING
The Wood County Committee on Aging is accepting entries for the 2026 poetry contest. Any Wood County resident 50 years of age or older may participate. The opening date for entries was Tuesday, Jan. 21, and they will close on Tuesday, March 31, at 4 p.m.
Any poem submitted should adhere to the theme of “Second Glances.” WCCOA is looking for poetry that in some way celebrates the heart and soul of Wood County citizens as they continue to celebrate their lives.
Entries must be submitted in English, double-spaced, in a 12-point Times New Roman font. Entries must be entirely the work of the participant and never previously published, online or offline. All styles of poems are acceptable, but they must be originals. Plagiarized short stories and poems will be disqualified.
Two entries will be accepted per person. Intent to submit will not be accepted. Poems are to have a title and the poet’s name, address, and phone number, and should not be longer than one page.
Poems are due to the WCCOA Programs Department, 140 S. Grove Street, Bowling Green, no later than Tuesday, March 31, by 4 p.m. Entries may also be emailed to programs@wccoa.net.
Winners will be selected by a Bowling Green State University writing professor. All poems entered will be available for reading in a loosely bound edition.
The winning poet will be notified by phone at the end of April and will also be announced on the WCCOA blog and Facebook page. The grand prize award will be a $100 gift card sponsored by Manor at Perrysburg.
After the winner has been announced, all poems will be posted for reading on the WCCOA blog, which can be found at: www.woodcountycommitteeonaging.blogspot.com.
For information on programs and services, contact WCCOA at 419-353-5661, 1-800-367-4935, or www.wccoa.net.
