On Nov. 18, 170 senior citizens filed into WJ for the 35th annual Senior Citizen’s Luncheon, hosted by the Key Club. Walkers in hand, the seniors were ready to be served by the spry do-gooders of WJ. With twinkles in their eyes, the elderly reminisced about their own high school experiences and bestowed words of wisdom upon their willing audience.
“I learned so much from them,” said senior Alexis Wang. “[I learned] about their lives when they were young and that you can still have the same best friend from grade school.”
The ‘seniors’ shared their life stories with the students with such vibrant enthusiasm that “it was impossible not to be interested,” said junior and event planner Shiri Brodsky.
“One man that I met, for instance, traveled the world during World War II in a band performing for the Army’s soldiers,” said Brodsky. “He also starred in two movies.”
The Thanksgiving lunch itself, created by the cafeteria staff, was highly praised by the seniors.
“This food is delicious,” said one senior citizen while eating, “better than what we get at the Revitz House.”
As true for any major WJ event, lots of planning went into the Senior Citizens Luncheon. Key Club officers, sponsors and social studies teachers Katherine Simmons and Geri Acquard all made huge contributions with fundraising, planning, organizing and coordinating with different senior homes to make this event flow.
“It was really fun, and I feel like being with these senior citizens and celebrating Thanksgiving with them really makes a difference in some of their lives,” said Brodsky. “Overall, it was definitely a success and everyone had lots of fun.”
