Volunteers Gail Isabell, Rose Carey, Debbie Anderson, Rachel Wilkinson, Trista Alexander, Aubrey Matthew in the kitchen.
Rilyn Richardson and Regan Jones, members of Seeley-Swan High School Leos Club, serve Robert Harman a helping of mashed potatoes.
Diners at the Seeley Lake Senior Center
Boyd Gossard at the Senior Center St. Patrick's fundraiser.
On Saturday, March 11, The Seeley Lake Senior Center had their first St. Patrick's Day Dinner since COVID-19. The buffet-style event from noon to 5 p.m., was attended by 98 people.
Irish Stew, potatoes - both baked and mashed- corn beef, cabbage and carrots were served to hungry community members by volunteers and students from the Seeley-Swan High School.
"I would say this is one of our better ones," said Boyd Gossard, organizer of the event. "We had really good participation. Had a lot of good comments about the quality of the food."
The meal was well attended and by all accounts, was "steady all day." The holiday-themed dinner, which cost $8 for all-you-can-eat was enjoyed by all. But beyond the large helpings of corned beef- which Gossard said was his favorite- there was much chatter and laughter as old friends and community members gathered around their tables.
The Senior Center hosted more fundraiser meals more frequently in the past, but whittled it down to just the St Patrick's Day Dinner, and Hunter's Breakfast in the fall, after noticing how much better attended the two were compared to others. Money from the events is used to support their efforts to feed those around the area who aren't able to feed themselves.
"This really does mean a lot to the Senior Center," Gossard said. "It keeps us going. We've kind of been struggling, like everybody, with inflation."
As well as the dinner, they hosted a cake walk and a silent auction with donated items.
"We think it's a very important facility for the community. Very important for elders and elderly people, and the homebound," Gossard said.
This month the Senior Center is raising funds as part of the March for Meals event, supporting Meals on Wheels in their efforts to feed local homebound residents.
The Senior Center is the local provider for the Meals on Wheels program, which is dedicated to addressing isolation and hunger by delivering nutritious meals and safety checks to those who cannot get out on their own.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be the elderly," Gossard said. "If they're disabled and qualify, we work that way too."
Meals on Wheels is always looking for more drivers in the area and Gossard urged anyone who is interested to contact the Senior Center for more information.
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