Pocahontas County Senior Citizens hosted a Food and Fun Day Saturday at Hillsboro Elementary School as a fundraiser for the county’s Meals on Wheels program. The event raised $2,746 which will be added to other funds raised throughout the March for Meals.
County residents were treated to entertainment by the Hefner family, as well as carnival games and a cakewalk.
Hillsboro Senior Center director Lois Mamak said the event was very successful, due in large part to the volunteers.
“I’ve never had so many volunteers at an event we’ve had,” Mamak said. “I had a lot of parents thank me for having events for the kids. They really enjoyed the toilet paper dodgeball and the cakewalk. We had so many cakes to give.”
Among attendees were Senator Joe Manchin’s Regional Coordinator Peggy Hawse and Delegate Denise Campbell.
Hawse shared greetings from the senator and expressed her pleasure in attending the event.
“I’m delighted to be here today,” she said. “The senator wanted [his staff] to focus on senior services for the month of March. I’ve been to all the senior centers this month and this past Wednesday, I went out with Meals on Wheels in Pendleton County. This Wednesday, I’m going out with Meals on Wheels in Green Bank.”
Hawse read a letter from Manchin expressing his support for senior programs in the state.
“Senior services was a top priority when I was Governor, and it remains a top priority for me now as your U.S. Senator, which is why I am proud to serve on the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging,” Manchin wrote. “Our ‘experienced’ West Virginians deserve to enjoy and live comfortably in our great state, and that is why I sincerely appreciate the efforts of the senior centers in Pocahontas County, and across our entire state.”
Delegate Campbell also shared her thanks and appreciation for the Meals on Wheels program.
“I think Meals on Wheels is one of the most important programs for our seniors here and across America,” she said. “It’s very important for those of us who live in rural areas because those are the citizens who can’t get out to get food.”
Hawse and Campbell, joined by Ruth Taylor and Oak Grove Presbyterian minister Andy Rice, judged the posters entered in a contest by county elementary students.
The grand prize – a new bicycle – donated by Back Mountain Services went to Sammy Williams. Other winners were: first runner-up, Jared Friel; second runner-up, Hannah Burks; and third runner-up, Emelyn Hall.
Also participating in the contest were Kameron Clutter, Kaylee Pritt, Mya Workman, Gavin Walls, Andrea Alderman, Hayden Walker, Trenton Tuskan, Jadyn Lane, Heidi Kelly, Kristen Nichole McCoy, Waylon Lucabaugh, Holden Sharp, Maliki Smith, Breaunna Burgess, Elizabeth Smithson, Whitney Robertson and Ryan Robertson.
Winners of the crochet drawing were: Elwood Groves, Diane Morris, Bill Beard, Carolyn Burns, Sharla Sherman, John C. Davis, Rusty Parks, Steve Sharp, Nick Rahall, Angie Bostic, Kathy Arbogast, Phillip Cain, Sharon Fisher, Doris Authur, Carroll Barlow, Sue Cassell, Mike Hardesty, Steve Currence, Curtis Curry, Angela Lester and Gary Galford.
Suzanne Stewart may be contacted at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com
