What started as an idea to get people – specifically senior citizens – together for some social gatherings has blossomed into much more than originally anticipated.
The Escalon Senior Fun Bunch marked its fifth ‘birthday’ with a celebration on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at the city’s Community Center. Marking five years since they started back in 2019, the party featured not only some special presentations, but also Bingo, music, a craft activity, lots of information and ice cream sundaes.
“Every time I wanted to go to a senior event, I had to go to Manteca or Modesto and I wanted to know why we didn’t have something right here,” said Ann Shaddix, one of the original coordinators of the group, who first put the idea out there.
Just as the ‘bunch’ was starting to gain steam and get more people attending, the pandemic intervened. COVID-19 shut down virtually everything in early 2020, forcing the Senior Fun Bunch organizers to find a way to maintain contact with the seniors they were trying to reach.
“We kept it going,” Shaddix explained. “We had drive-thrus, we made phone calls, so we kept it going through the pandemic. We didn’t meet but we kept them connected as much as we could.”
Shaddix also pointed to the support of Saron Lutheran Church, which provides some financial assistance to the group as a ministry outreach, as being important to its continued growth.
The Wednesday celebration also featured the presentation of special Certificates of Appreciation from legislators, and the Fun Bunch was recognized earlier this month by the Escalon City Council, also receiving special certificates.
Members of the group that do the majority of the planning and assisting in putting on the third Wednesday of the month programs are, in alphabetical order: Sherri Franceschetti, Tina Jensen, Cindy Moreno, Peggy Rocha and Lois Tilbury. Rocha took the microphone for much of the Aug. 21 gathering, introducing special guests Jaylen French, interim Escalon City Manager; and John Andoh, the city’s Transit Coordinator.
Andoh offered information on the various transit options – some of them free – for local senior citizens and outlined some new offerings, such as the Miocar, which is basically a short-term rental car available to residents.
Some type of informational, educational or recreational program is featured at each monthly gathering.
Committee members said they are pleased to see the numbers continue to hold steady, with about 80 people turning out for Wednesday’s birthday/anniversary celebration.
Attendees made a decoupage coaster to take home with them, enjoyed a performance by the Senior Fun Bunch Singers, some prize drawings, and got to play Bingo with favorite caller Robert Swift – a local businessman and former councilmember and mayor – behind the microphone. They also had the opportunity to gather informational brochures about upcoming events and marked the fifth birthday of the Senior Fun Bunch with an ice cream social, at a make-your-own-sundae bar.
And in helping establish a regular meeting-social event for seniors here, Shaddix said she and other Fun Bunch volunteers have definitely filled a need.
“Just the fact that they’re mixing, they’re laughing, they’re talking together, every time I’m just so amazed and I walk away with such a great feeling,” Shaddix admitted of what she enjoys most about the now-monthly gatherings that draw dozens of local senior citizens. “I know, in talking with many seniors, how lonesome it can be for them and so, to watch it, to watch them socialize, I do believe we’re making a difference.”
