Takeaway Mother’s Day a success, Rotary Club says

The Hot Springs Village Rotary Club’s annual Mother’s Day celebration, which is usually held at the Coronado Center, switched to a takeout format on Sunday because of the coronavirus pandemic this year.

Villager Greg Jones “graciously allowed the club to move the event to his restaurant, Xplore Lakeside,” a news release said.

The Rotary Mother’s Day committee was chaired by Lydia McCarthy, who worked for several weeks taking about 250 reservations over the phone. When they contacted McCarthy, callers received a pickup time, so the line of cars “moved very efficiently in front of Xplore from checking in to the moment they received their dinners. Some patrons took their meals to the Balboa Pavilion next door, enjoying the warm sunshine and beauty of the lakefront.”

“Chatting with Rotarians who were on site to greet the patrons as they waited in line, some drivers suggested making the takeout event an annual affair. Almost all of the patrons pronounced the Takeaway Mother’s Day a huge success,” the release said.

Rotarians who worked the Takeaway Mother’s Day event all wore face coverings and practiced safe social distancing. They included Donna Aylward, Clif Haygood, Nancy Hendricks, Greg Jones, Lydia McCarthy, Lori McMinn, Barb Mitchell, Tom Mitchell, Melanie Pederson, Denise Taylor, and club President John Weidert.

For more information about HSV Rotary or to access the club bulletin, visit http://www.hsvrotary.org or http://www.Facebook.com/hsvrotary.

Submitted photo CREW: From left, masked Rotarians Melanie Pederson, Lydia McCarthy and Lori McMinn keep a safe distance while setting up for Takeaway Mother’s Day.

Submitted photo WAITING IN LINE: Drivers line up at Xplore Lakeside for Rotary Mother’s Day takeout dinners.