Volunteer of the Month
Archives
October 2021
Don Harper
This month we’d like to shine the light on Don Harper is one of our longtime Transportation Assistance Program (TAP) drivers. Don has been a member for about 7 ½ years, and has been driving for 5 ½ years. During that time he has become one of our go-to drivers driving multiple times a week, and sometimes several trips in one day. He first heard about the center from his mother-in-law, who is a Wii Bowler. She got him a membership and he came and joined the Wii Bowling league. He then remembered then Outreach Director, Holly Andrade, talking about TAP and how they needed drivers. He gave it a test drive, enjoyed it and has been doing it ever since. He loves driving, and loves the people. He thinks of this as his job, but a job he enjoys. The clients love him too and has clients who ask for him. Originally from Fort Worth, TX, his mom brought him out here when he was two. He inched his way over from Blythe, to Beaumont, to Highland. We are thankful that his travels brought him closer to us. Thanks Don for driving that extra mile for us!
Featured Class
Creative Writing
Date: September 16, 2021
Time: 12:30 - 2:00 pm
Length: 8 Weeks
Cost: $8 members
$8 non-members
Instructor: Group Led
Location: Game Room
Description: Don’t be ‘a writer’. Be writing. - William Faulkner The Creative Writing, or Writing for Fun class, is our only student led classes. The class brings in assigned projects and presents them to the class. The class then gives helpful feedback and discussion. Styles of writing varies from class to class, such as a memoir, humor, essays, poetry, etc. You will write about what you know, but if the assignment doesn’t please you. Write something else. Classes are on Thursdays from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Sessions are 8 weeks in length, with classes held quarterly. Cost is only $8 for members and non-members.
Featured Activity
Nutrition Program
Time: Dailys 12:00 pm
Cost: $1.75 members
$3.75 Non-seniors non-members
Location: Dining Room
Description: This week, the Highland Senior Center would like to give you a little background on a program that many people take advantage of but probably know little about: their Nutrition Program. It has been going on here at the center for nearly 40 years. When it first began, it was run by San Bernardino County. There was even a cook who prepared the meals at the center. The following year it was taken over by the City of San Bernardino through the Parks and Recreation program, which has been running it ever since. The meals are cooked downtown and delivered to the center Monday through Friday. From there, the centers' Nutrition team of volunteers take over feeding approximately 225 diners every week. Starting at 8:00 am, the group comes in and begins cleaning the kitchen and getting everything ready for the food. When it arrives around 11:00 am they prepare the trays and service begins at 12:00 pm. Once everyone is done, its time to clean the kitchen and dinning area in preparation for the next day. This needs to be done because they are inspected regularly by three different agencies. The County of San Bernardino, the City of San Bernardino, and the Department of Aging and Adult Service. However, its not all about the food. Many people come also come for the social interaction; coming hours early to chat and visit with friends, staying afterwards to participate in activities. As they say, man cannot live by food alone, and the crowd shows that they are hungry for more. The cost is only $1.75 for those ages 60 and older, and $3.75 for non-seniors.
St_ Patricks Day Party 2013
By: Mike Sylva
Once again it was that time of year when every one claims a bit o’ Irish heritage, as we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick, the priest who drove the snakes from Ireland, among other things, so we celebrate by drinking green beer, pinching those who aren’t wearing green, and eat corned beef!
Here at the Center we celebrate with in a slightly different, but just as fun, way. We actually did it a few days ahead as it fell on a Sunday this year. That just meant the party could last for three days! As people showed up in their finest greenery, Claudia Wrona got people in the mood through great Irish jigs as well as some non-Irish tunes, but no one seemed to mind. As people arrived they reached into a crock to pick out a shamrock. Minnie Gray had the luck of the Irish about her as she won the 50/50 contest.
There was also a trivia contest, where contests tried their best (and some their worst) to answer questions about Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day. Not everyone knew the answers, but at the end of the contest, they walked away a little smarter.
However, if there were one memory that was going to stick out in people’s minds it is going to be the food. The father/daughter team of Jim Imbriorski and Martha McGrew spent two days preparing and cooking corned beef, cabbage, carrots, onions, and potatoes for the feast.
Thanks to Don Davis and Aetna for sponsoring the event, as well as volunteers, Linda Brian, Marge Booth, Joan Brieten, Virginia Kautzman, Sally Gomez, Brenda Adams, and Helen, Bridgewater, as well as everyone who came out to help us make it such a fun-filled event.
