Senior Center hosts Thanksgiving dinner
Photo by Tanna Yeoumans Seniors of the Boundary County community came together at the Senior Center for their annual Thanksgiving dinner.
Photos by Tanna Yeoumans The Senior Center served a Thanksgiving dinner to about 80 attendees on Friday, Nov. 17.
Activity Chairman Nancy Martinez holds up Trumpy Bear and his certificate of authenticity.
BONNERS FERRY — With the holidays upon us, Boundary County community members came together over the past week in celebration of the harvest season.
The Senior Center, which has held activities and luncheons since 1974, hosted its annual Thanksgiving feast on Nov. 17. Usually, the members take the evening out for dinner, but after the feast on Friday, they chose to converse and socialize with friends.
The Senior Center, located next to Columbia Bank in Bonners Ferry, hosts luncheons for those ages 60 years young and older with a suggested donation. They are open 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, serving meals each day except Thursdays.
The Senior Center is not only a place where community members can go and eat, it offers exercises, games, pool, books, guest speakers, and other forms of entertainment including companionship. The Center is supported by Area Agency on Aging and USDA Rural Development, combined with donations and fundraisers.
Their most recent fundraiser was a raffle for ‘Trumpy Bear,’ which is a bear plush that has a toupee similar to President Donald Trump’s hairstyle and donned with an outfit complete with a cape. The fundraiser’s proceeds go back to the Senior Center and supporting the senior community of Boundary County.
“We are really trying to get a lot of seniors active,” said Activity Chairman Nancy Martinez. “We like to go out and do activities, like Night Out at the Nativity, every time something goes on we take people out to the events. We had two kindergarten classes, one on Wednesday, and on the Friday before, that came and got to sing for us, which was a highlight for the senior attendants.”
Pat Olson works the front desk at the Senior Center most days, offering information and making change for those who come and purchase a meal. Her active personality did not stop after a recent stroke, and she continues to keep busy at the Senior Center and the activities that they promote.
“We have a lot of fun here, Nancy keeps us going pretty fast,” said Olson. “We play games and Friday we go out to eat. Wednesday after dominoes, we go to Sandpoint and play Bingo. There’s several of us that stick together and do a lot of fun things.” Olson went on to say, “I was really happy to see this many people. I don’t think we have had this many people before. We had about 80 people today.”
With the large turnout, everyone wore a smile on their face and laughter in their heart as they came together and celebrated the season.
The Senior Center website is http://www.seniorshospitalitycenter.com.