Members of the Key Club attended the annual senior citizen holiday luncheon at Greis Park on Wednesday, December 20. The event is held to spread holiday cheer to elderly citizens at Lynbrook Restorative Therapy and Nursing Home who might not have family to celebrate the holidays with.
Volunteers primarily spend their time talking to the senior citizens and assisting them, including helping serve food to them, carrying their plates, pouring them water, getting them dessert, and listening to their stories. One of the seniors was an LHS alum, Carol Behrendt, from the class of 1942, who was also the Grand Marshal in last year’s homecoming parade. Another senior citizen was a veteran who fought in the war; others were local residents.
To spread holiday cheer, students put on performances, singing and dancing to popular Christmas songs. Junior Cooper Schoor even put on a comedy show for additional entertainment.
This annual experience is cherished by both the volunteers and the senior citizens. Key Club President and senior Dea Pulatani shared, “Every year I have gotten to go has been more amazing than the rest. Seeing familiar faces and getting recognized by the senior citizens is a surreal experience. Our volunteers got to speak and introduce themselves to people from all different walks of life. They shared insightful opinions, comical jokes, and so much more.”
Key Club board representative and sophomore Aidan Pearsall agreed with Pulatani and commented, “I loved being there and hearing all the great stories some of the people had to tell. Volunteers talked and played games with the senior citizens and then sang and danced. The people were so happy; they all left with a smile.” Junior Erick Diaz added, “I really enjoyed the experience. I heard many amazing stories from many of the senior citizens and made really close relationships with some of them, and they seemed very happy with our presence, which, again, made me very happy, too.”
This experience also taught volunteers the importance of giving back during the holiday season. When asked how it felt to make a difference in these people’s lives, Pulatani responded, “We often forget that people who made up our community so many decades ago are still here with us. This luncheon offers us and them an opportunity to reconnect in the spirit of the holiday season.”
Throughout the event, members explained to the senior citizens what Key Club is. They expressed how Key Club is a community service club that is always looking to benefit others through events such as blood drives, food drives, coat drives, toy drives, Double Good Popcorn Fundraisers, and bingo nights at the Sunrise Assisted Living Center.
Diaz recalled that “many of the senior citizens are not able to enjoy the holidays like they used to, and it is just a great experience for them as well as for us to share and make new memories.” Advisor Benedict Tieniber expressed, “It [was] breathtaking. I feel like we all made a difference in each other’s lives.”
Both the senior citizens and volunteers enjoyed the afternoon and will continue to cherish this annual event. Key Club members cannot wait to return next year and for many more years to come.
