It isn’t often you walk into the International Falls Senior Center and see every seat filled for lunch.
The annual Christmas party brings in more people for special food and activities.
Kelly Rask, first cook, and Deann Lehman, second cook, prepared a special Christmas meal of chicken Kiev, rice pilaf, glazed carrots, pistachio pie, and fruit Jell-o. They sent out about 70 meals to seniors in their homes, and said the holiday event drew a much bigger than normal dining room crowd of around 85 people.
Donna Whitbeck, site manager, said that the holiday events tend to draw big crowds and the center would like people to come in for the same good food for just $3 for seniors over age 60, and just $6 for people under age 60.
Isolation is a sad fact of life for many seniors, and Ginny Jespersen, president of the Koochiching Senior Center, said she would like to see more people come in to dine, socialize and enjoy the senior center facility.
Donald Hughes performed Christmas songs and old favorites on his accordion. He plays regularly at senior center events and was a member of many acts over the years, including the Border Pioneers. His Menghini accordion once belonged to Les Harkonen, the former leader of a Finnish band and dancers that celebrated the diversity of the Iron Range.
The Senior Center will play host to a performance by Joyful Noise from 4-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, with cake and coffee.
