Posted by Bob Wicks on May 31, 2021
On Thursday May 20, about 21 Rotarians participated in a service project, our much-anticipated annual Senior Luncheon.  This year, in view of the vaccine rollout, it became a hybrid event.  Tri-Chairs Laurie Cameron, Mary Foote-Hill and Dottie Levesque created a well-organized activity that began with a drive-thru distribution of food and goodies.
  
The event really began the day before, on Wednesday May 19.  Several Rotarians gathered in the kitchen at Ray Morley’s Ipswich Inn to cut and chop vegetables for the beef stew that Chef Ray was preparing for the next day.  On hand ‘sou chefs’ were Laurie Cameron, Sr Leonore Coan, Julie Nelson, and Nat Pulsifer. 
 
Thursday morning began at the Inn where Chef Ray and his Rotary helpers were putting the finishing touches on the meal, filling food containers, and creating grab and go bags. The insulated bags were generously donated by the Institution for Savings. Assisting Ray were Rev Brad Clark, Chris Davis, Phil Goss, and Diane Herth. Brian Nelson transported food from the Inn to the Ipswich Senior Center where Laurie Cameron and Dottie Levesque were busy preparing the venue.
 
Outside the Senior Center, participating senior citizens began arriving at 11:15 am. They received their grab and go bags from Mary Foote-Hill and Dottie Levesque, along with Senior Center staff. Laurie Cameron and Martha Mauser passed out Lindt chocolate bags, while down the line a bit Lisa Shanko and Paula Bishop presented each senior with a carnation.
 
Inside the Senior Center, limited seating was available, consistent with Covid guidelines. Some participants elected to sit inside, while others chose to enjoy their lunch outside under the tent. The inside crew consisted of Sr. Leonore Coan and Ann Witzig. Our outside guests were well attended to by Glenn Gibbs, George Gray, and Phil Goss.
 
With over 120 seniors gathering more or less simultaneously on the Town Hall grounds, traffic around Town Hall was kept moving smoothly by Cindy and Dennis Quinn. The lunch ended just after 1 pm, following which many of the volunteers sat down to their own well deserved lunch of Ipswich Inn beef stew, a roll, Toll House cookie and candy. After lunch, the cleanup began.
 
We are grateful to Ray Morley, our 3 co-chairs, the team of Rotary volunteers, Director Sheila Taylor and all of our friends at the Ipswich Council on Aging, and our generous sponsors, for helping make this another pleasant activity for so many of our senior citizens.
 
To view more images from this event, go to the 2021 Senior Lunch slide show in the Photo Albums section of the home page, or click HERE.