An annual Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center tradition organized by the Castaic Lions Club, with the help of a host of businesses and student volunteers, is looking to once again thank one of our community’s most precious resources, organizers said Monday
“It’s just literally the community coming together to prepare this meal, and experience, for our greatest asset, our senior citizens,” said Flo Lawrence, a CLC member who helps with the event.
The event is aimed at giving back and raising awareness about the resources the center offers for the community, he added, noting the center is also in the final stages of a campaign for a new facility.
Every year, the volunteer group puts together the dinner for SCV seniors, which is attended and supported by community members from all over the valley.
This year, businesses have once again fully supported the event, and the Hart district is provided hundreds of volunteers, and now there’s only one last step: making sure all of the seniors who would like to go have a ride, he added.
“We wanted to provide the seniors not only with the best meal of the year, but also with the family to go along with it,” Lawrence explained.
“This is a three-pronged effort if you will,” Lawrence said. “We have the kids in the Hart district volunteering to help serve the seniors, and more importantly, visit with the seniors; No. 2, you have the financial support of business leaders in the community; and the third part is, we can’t get that much food out of the (SCV) Senior Center kitchen,” he added, thanking a host of local restaurants that are providing dishes and sides for the feast.
The restaurants supporting the event included the Hyatt Regency Valencia, Larsen’s Steakhouse, Le Chene, Marston’s, Salt Creek Grille, Six Flags Magic Mountain, TPC Valencia, and the culinary programs of Golden Valley, West Ranch and Valencia high schools, as well as College of the Canyons.
“Ultimately, this is a day of gratitude,” Lawrence said, noting the SCV Senior Center tradition goes back about 40 years, and the last eight have been hosted by the Castaic Lions Club, “and so it is this community’s way of giving thanks to those who raised us.”
Seniors can make a reservation by calling the SCV Senior Center at 661-259-9444. The meal is free, all are welcome, but it is for seniors only. The doors open Thanksgiving day at 10 a.m., and the food is served at 11 a.m.
If anyone is interested in helping with carpool needs for the event, they should contact Flo Lawrence at 310-592-4705.
