CLEARLAKE>>> The Clearlake Highlands Senior Center held their annual “Kicking into Spring” barbecue dinner and dessert auction Saturday, where residents gathered to share some food and fun for a good cause.
This family friendly fundraiser was organized by Senior Center Program Director Joyce Overton and executed by her dedicated staff, volunteers and partners. Overton expressed her gratitude for partners and patrons sharing, “Our volunteers, they are the ones who are here everyday, keeping the Meals on Wheels program going, and without them some of our seniors wouldn’t be here today.” Her staff prepared a full-course meal with appetizers, barbecue chicken or pork, potato salad, corn and dinner rolls. The meal was served by Lower Lake High School students who donated their time but were provided the tip money they earned.
District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, acting as the evening’s host and auctioneer, shared a few words in recognition of the senior center before introducing the live entertainment, The High Notes, who played classics like “Elvira” by Dallas Frazier and in turn showed their support by purchasing a dessert to take home.
Sabatier said, “There are still some unknowns, I don’t mean to be too serious, but back in December when the federal government made their budget it did not include the Older Americans Act, luckily in March that was added back in.” He referred to current times as a “roller coaster ride” as about $500 million has been cut from food programs including the Meals on Wheels program. He spoke about the need for senior centers, stating “We have a situation in the world called the age of loneliness, we have seniors at home who are enduring this, and if it wasn’t for the Senior Centers that we have throughout our community, they would not have the companionship and the socializing they go through and the support systems they can connect to.” Sabatier added that this is aligned with increases in the homeless senior community, where more and more of the community’s elders are finding themselves without a home or proper shelter.
Raising over $750 from the dessert auction alone, the Senior Center cleared over $1,000 dollars from the combined ticket sales and the raffle and silent auction. Items were donated from local businesses and individuals. These included baskets with local wines and other alcoholic beverages as well as handmade items and collectibles. KUSD school board member Zabdy Neria was present with her family and won a large cake at auction after her young daughter bid and no one dared to outbid a little girl and her cake. “We are so happy to support such a good cause and the baby was very happy too,” said Neria.
The funds raised will continue to aid the Senior Center in providing healthy meals at no cost for the senior population in this community through their daily lunch service and also through programs like Meals on Wheels. In order to do so this past year the Senior Center had to remodel their kitchen in an attempt to keep up with demand. After improving their food storage by upgrading fridges and freezers, they are back in action serving a hot lunch daily and keeping up with the growing demand for Meals on Wheels. The center also provides an array of other programs including PAWS (Pets Assisting with the Well Being of Seniors), a program that offers free supplemental pet food, as well as flea and tick medications for dogs and cats. Born out of the Solano County Meals on Wheels, the PAWS program has gained much notoriety for the much-needed services they provide. Sabatier noted, “There are lots of services needed for our animals though it is getting more and more expensive to take care of our animals and to have them treated and microchipped.”
