Volunteer of the Month
Archives
April 2021
Leisa Alexander
This month we’d like to shine the light on someone few of you may have seen, but may have benefited from her volunteering. Lesia (pronounced Lisa) Alexander has been helping us out since 2020. During that time she has helped serve meals for Thanksgiving, Operation Senior Claus, and most recently, the Grab-n-Go dinners Monday thru Friday she can be helping out her sister, Mae Lucero, getting the dinners from the local restaurants, then helping to distribute them to seniors at the center. However, Leisa doesn’t just come here help to serve food. All that work can wear a person out, so when she’s not volunteering, she enjoys coming to the center’s Aerobics Program to boost her cardio. Originally from Meridian, MS, she and her two siblings came out Calif., to live with, and be raised by their big sister Mae, when their mom passed away. After she grew up she went to work for the Dept. of Corrections where she worked for 27 years before retiring. During that time she raised a son, who in turn, gave her a grandchild. Thanks Leisa for helping to ensure that our senior don’t go hungry.
Featured Class
Spanish
Date: April 23, 2020
Time: 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
$8 non-members
Instructor: TBA
Location: Game Room
Description: This class is designed to teach students conversational Spanish. The class will enable you to carry on limited conversation at first just to get you started. Then as you progress, so will the levels. As for what to bring, just bring a writing instrument and paper. Books might come later. We hope to see you there, or as you will soon be saying, Esperamos verte ahÃ.
Featured Activity
Canasta
Time: Thursdays 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free members
Free non-members
Location: Parlor
Description: If you'd like to participate in a card game as where you need a poker face, bridge intellect, and rummy fun, then you just might want to try Canasta. What exactly is Canasta? It is a game of the Rummy family and was once the most popular American game. Originating in Uruguay in the early 1940s, it spread rapidly to Argentina and the rest of Latin America, and reached the United States about 1948 where it is played by millions. The usual number of players is four, in two partnerships, however, it may also be played by two, three, five, or six players. The packs are made up of 108 cards, two regular packs of 52 cards, plus four jokers, all shuffled together. They have 3-4 full tables going so a seat is always available. If you don't know how to play but would like to learn you they are always ready and able to teach the ins and outs. They will gladly let you sit in and play and learn. After one hand you'll get the basics. If you are an experienced Canasta player, or are just someone looking for fun time, stop by the Parlor every Thursday from 1 - 4 p.m.
Christmas Open House 2012
By: Mike Sylva
It may not have been snowing at the center, but everyone could sure feel Jack Frost nipping their noses. Still, the halls were decked with boughs of holly as well as silver bells, letting everyone know that it’s Christmas time at the center. That meant it was time to open our doors to all our friends for an afternoon of fun, food, and frivolity.
We started with traditional Christmas songs. Jack Meikle played piano while the crowd sang their hearts out. This was followed by the Highland Pickers and their toe tapping renditions of some holiday favorites. Next came a short intermission that gave us time to serve some cookies and cocoa. After eating their fill till their bellies shook like bowls full of jelly, it was time for Harriet Foucher and her Kristal Bells. The crowd, once again, got into the act as Harriet acted as the symphony conductor for our bell ringers in the crowd.
Maybe it was the scent of the goodies wafting through the air that led our special guests, Santa and Mrs. Claus, to take a break from their hectic schedule. Santa made his way through the crowd possibly finalizing his naughty and nice list on a few of our members, but we’re pretty sure everyone will squeak through to nice list. Even Molly Wright! Then, it was back to work as he and the Missus headed back to the North Pole.
Finally, there was one big gift to be opened up before Christmas, as lucky winner, Mary Oehling who went home with their half of the 50/50 Raffle prize to buy either a nice present for someone, or a really nice present for herself! With that it was time to bundle up and go home over the river and through the woods to sit by an open fire.
Special thanks to our talented musicians and volunteers to helped us to spread a little Christmas cheer. We would especially like to thank our sponsors, Don Davis with Aetna, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for sponsoring the event.
