By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Editor
When I went to the Hootman Center on Wednesday, Nov. 13, I thought I was just going for the monthly luncheon put on by the Golden Oaks Senior Citizens.
It was lunch and so much more!
Ron Manning, president of the Golden Oaks Senior Citizens, called several Bingo games prior to lunch being served.
This monthly gathering is a membership meeting that began with some announcements by President Ron Manning. The thrift store, located at 31908 Hilltop Boulevard in Running Springs, is doing well but could always use more volunteers. As an incentive, they give a $40 gift certificate to a local restaurant to one lucky volunteer each month.
The club will be hosting a free community dinner on Thanksgiving from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hootman Center. There will be games and prizes for the children.
Manning also announced that the Golden Oaks had recently given a $7,000 donation to Helping Hands, which distributes holiday food baskets.
And then the fun began. As folks had arrived, each was given two Bingo cards, with additional ones available for purchase. Manning wasted no time in calling out the numbers for several different games. Players had “cheat sheets,” showing them what numbers they needed to win each game.
The first game was straight Bingo, followed by Game 11, the letter F, and then Game 21, the letter Y. It didn’t take long for a cry of “Bingo” to be heard in the hall.
Everyone had developed an appetite with the intense concentration required by playing Bingo so folks started to line up to fill their plates with the lunch, prepared by Golden Oaks volunteers. As Thanksgiving is just around the corner, the lunch included roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, green beans and several salads. Some guests had brought side dishes while others brought a variety of desserts. Diners voted on their favorites; the winners received cash prizes.
Sandy Brown has her blood pressure taken by James Ellsberry, firefighter-EMT with the Running Springs Fire Department.
Several members of the Running Springs Fire Department arrived and were available to take folks’ blood pressure.
Other activities offered through the Golden Oaks include yoga with Samantha Patterson on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m.; Bunco on first Wednesdays at 11 a.m.; community Bingo on fourth Sundays at 2 p.m.; and monthly craft classes.
All activities take place at the Hootman Center, 2929 Running. Springs School Road. For more information, stop in at the thrift store.
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