More than130 people filled American Legion Post 63 April 30 to show appreciation for volunteers who help at the Senior Center.
‘Over 4,000 volunteer hours were recorded,? said Margaret Bartos, senior center director.
‘This is to honor the volunteers and we invite the township board and the other people to help us honor them. It lends a little more weight to how much this community appreciates what they do.?
Volunteers help out with the Senior Advisory Committee and event planning committees, kitchen helpers, and meals on wheels drivers, food booths, bake sales, fundraisers, Clarkston Melody Makers, bowling, volleyball, Red Hats, bingo, cards, crafts, World War II talks and other inter-generational events, tax preparation, and other tasks, Bartos said.
Donating prizes were: Kroger’s, Clarkston Auto Wash, Clarkston Big Boy, Hair Tamer, Hamlin Pub, Las Piramides Restaurant, McDonald’s, Nina’s Restaurant, Ruby Tuesdays, State Farm, T & C Federal Credit Union, TCF Bank, and Town Center Auto Wash.
Lunch was provided by ‘Shannon’s Cooking.? Ron Wagner helped with the theme ‘Thanks A Bunch? and with d’cor. Clarkston High School Madrigal Singers under direction of Michael Peterson and Clarkston Melody Makers senior band provided entertainment.
‘It worked out very well, I am so glad so many people turned out and our senior center staff does a wonderful job,? said Bartos. ‘This is the one thing that the staff does, where most of our programs are volunteers.?
More than $1,000 was raised from sponsor donations, noted Bartos.
Sponsors included Dr. HsaioBechinski of Genesys Practice Partners, Clarkston Specialty Healthcare Center, Home Instead Senior Care, Oakland Eye Care, Oxford Bank, Pine Tree Place, Sunny Hill Estates, and Wint & Son Funeral Home.
Guests included John Stakoe, 44th District state representative; Tom Middleton, 4th District county commissioner; Dave Wagner, Independence Township supervisor; Shelagh Vanderveen, Independence Twp Clerk; Dan Travis, Larry Rosso, and Dan Kelly, Independence Township trustees; Dave Belcher, Building Deparment director; Linda Richardson, director of DPW; Bev Shaver, director of Assessing Department; Mike Spillum, Bruce Mercado, and Dan Niewoit, Parks and Recreation Commission; Mike Turk, director, Parks and Recreation; and Kelly Hyer, Parks and Recreation supervisor. Father Leslie Harding, Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, led prayer.
‘The Volunteer Lunch has been an annual event over 30 years,? Bartos said.