Drop-In Centre celebrating 30 years
On Saturday, April 20 at 5:30 p.m., the folks at the Penticton Seniors’ Drop-In Centre will throw open the doors on what’s likely to be one of the slickest shindigs the facility has ever seen.
The stylish evening, officially dubbed the “30th Anniversary Fundraising Gala” and marking the three-decade anniversary of the founding of the society that established the Centre, will feature an abundance of awesome perks.
Perks like a top-level prime rib buffet-style dinner and plentiful pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres courtesy of highly rated caterer FoodieLicious Kitchen, a jam-packed silent auction and cork pull, a full-service bar, not one but two live bands over the course of the event, and a spacious dance floor on which to get up and boogie.
There’ll even be door prizes. And a 50/50 draw. And a “sweet table” they’ll whip out at 10 p.m. to keep the crowd energized.
But what makes the whole thing work is ticket sales. And the organizers would like to see a few more of those.
The place is busier than ever these days, said Seniors’ Drop-In Centre Society president Tina Begg, adding that it delivers a wide array of activities and events to its 1,200-plus members every day of the year and charges a mere $40 annual fee per person (and $4 drop-in fees) to do so.
But, she stressed, it’s entirely self-sufficient and doesn’t see a penny from any level of government. And that’s why fundraisers like this one, where all proceeds are plowed directly back into operations, are so necessary.
Indeed, this is the Centre’s biggest and poshest fundraiser of the year. How big and how posh? The kitchen and serving staff alone will total 30-plus people, mostly volunteers. And little wonder. The evening’s audacious menus are chock-full of culinary delights.
Sophisticated stuff like poached pear with blue cheese during hors d’oeuvres hour and Moroccan cous cous salad and honey-maple-dijon breast of herbed chicken as dinner options.
“Back in the day,” said Society board member Don Wilson in explaining the formation of his organization 30 years ago, “a group of seniors got together. They were meeting at Karl’s Schnitzel
House (on Skaha Lake Road). The Hansel and Gretel Motel was right next door. The building is still there.”
Details are a wee bit scattered as to what came next because many of the key people are no longer with us, but by 1994 a society had been formed and a smallish drop-in centre was regularly in use at the Hansel and Gretel.
Indeed, there’s an article and photo from an October 1995 edition of The Herald posted at the Centre website where owner Karl Schrank is shown handing the keys to then Penticton Seniors’ Drop-In Centre Society president Tim Davis.
But the leased Hansel and Gretel arrangement was a stopgap. Big-time fundraising had already begun for a permanent facility.
That facility would ultimately be constructed on the former site of an orchard, a multi-acre parcel of land generously bequeathed to the city by owner Henry Johansen.
Johansen’s land became known as Robinson Park, and in 1996 the City put it to a public referendum: Did the people of
Penticton approve of 3.5 acres of Robinson Park becoming a seniors’ drop-in centre?
Fifty-two percent of respondents said they did and the project was fullsteam ahead. The grand opening of the $1.5-million building was Jan. 14, 2000.
We asked Begg why people should care about the Centre and the upcoming event.
“What would the city do without the Senior Centre is the question,” she countered. “We have over 1,200 members and more who just drop in, and if you look this morning, the parking lot is full as usual.
“We have so many activities that seniors really, really need in their lives. Just today we have ‘Senior Fit,’ ‘Chair Fit,’ ‘Mat Yoga,’ card games, dance parties and more. We’re vital to the senior population.”
But, said Begg, the Centre is perhaps even more important as a spirit lifter.
“We’re here to serve,” she said. “Many people are just lonely, but if they come here they’re not. We even have a once-aweek ‘Birds of a Feather’ where you can just come and sit at a ta-ble and have coffee and visit with people so you’re not left alone.”
The upcoming Gala, which will utilize the entire building and encourage guests to explore until their heart’s content, officially begins at 6 p.m. on April 20.
But for maximum bang for the buck, show up a half hour earlier when the doors open and the hors d’oeuvres are served and the first musical act of the evening, Little Big Band, begins their set.
Penticton’s celebrated South Okanagan Big Band will take the stage a little later at 7:30.
Tickets are available in person at the Centre at 2965 South Main St., via telephone at 250-493-2111 or online at www.pentictonseniors.ca.
While at the Centre website, click on the “Gala Online Auction” button for a chance to bid right now on 60-plus items donated mostly by businesses across the region.
“We need $11,000 to $12,000 a month just to keep the doors open here,” summarized Tina Begg. “And we’d love to see a full house on the 20th.”