Making Spirits Bright: Rotary’s Holiday Senior Dinner
On Dec. 10, Branford Rotary members delivered a special gift to a huge crowd of Branford’s senior citizens: the Annual Holiday Senior Dinner.
Dozens of Rotarians were joined by a group of Branford High School (BHS) Rotary InterAct students to serve a delicious, hot holiday meal to seniors in Pilgrim Hall at First Congregational Church. As always, dinner arrived on china plates, at festive tables decorated with holiday flowers.
The annual dinner is a much-anticipated holiday gift from Branford Rotary for members of Branford’s greatest generation. Guests pitch in a nominal fee of $2 which includes Canoe Brook Senior Center bus transportation to the dinner. Senior Center director Dagmar Ridgway said Branford’s seniors enjoy attending. She thanked them for coming out on Dec. 10 and thanked the Rotary for continuing this Branford holiday tradition.
“This is one of the most heartwarming evenings and events we have every year,” said Ridgway.
The night’s live musical entertainment included holiday songs performed by BHS Music Makers. The evening ended with a visit from St. Nick (a close personal friend of retired Branford Police Chief Robert Gill).
Branford Rotary member Bill Van Wilgen has been volunteering as the dinner’s chief chef and bottle washer for over 25 years now. He said 175 meals were served on Dec. 10.
“It was another great holiday dinner,” said Van Wilgen.
