December 18, 2008

Rotary Club holds senior holiday luncheon

Rotarians Paul Consentino (L), Gregg Consentino (C) and Paul Venezio (R) withbarbequed filet mignon steaks, hot off the grill.
Almaden Community Center kitchen staff (background left) and Almaden Valley Rotary Club members ready to assemble the meal plates.
The Simonds School Choir, consisting of 55 students from the 4th and 5th grades, singing for the Seniors, led by Ms. Terry Bermudes.

Every year, the Almaden Valley Rotary Club provides two special lunches for seniors—one at the Southside Community Center and the other at the Almaden Community Center, since its opening.

This year was no exception, and on Dec. 12 for the third year the Almaden service club provided filet mignon lunches to 200 senior citizens. It is about 16 years at the Southside center.

“It’s a program that seniors in both communities look forward to,” said Paul Uenaka, who has chaired the event for the past six years. He noted that it took only 90 minutes for seniors to register for the event, once it was announced, with 70 on the waiting list.

The club provides all the steaks, including the lunches for those volunteering. There were 24 volunteers at the Almaden lunch including club members, spouses and teens from the South Valley YMCA. It also provides the barbeque and does the cooking. The city provides the accompaniments including salads, baked potatoes, rolls and vegetables and the venue.

While the seniors eat, they are entertained. This year 55 fourth and fifth graders from Simonds Elementary School sung Christmas carols. There was even a visit from Santa Claus, who handed out candy canes to the singers.

After lunch and the program, the club raffles donated Poinsettias and $25 giftcards from local food stores.

The Almaden Valley Rotary Club was chartered in 1969. It’s members are a group of business and professional people that do community service programs. Beginning in January, the group will meet every Thursday at noon at the Almaden Country Club. Some of its community service projects include, donating and giving out turkeys for Thanksgiving day and provide gifts to families in need. They hold one large fundraiser each year during the summer, the Charlie Wedemeyer championship football game, which includes graduating seniors in their last official high school game. This year they raised $45,000. All the money raised goes back into the community.