Seniors for Seniors marks 40 years with high tea

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This article was published 24/08/2022 (1453 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The centuries-old tradition of tea and snacks was how one Brandon’s seniors social and service group marked a milestone year while looking to the future.

Brandon’s Seniors for Seniors Co-op marked its 40-year anniversary on Tuesday, inviting past and current board members as well as staff and volunteers to a traditional three-course high tea luncheon to enjoy each other’s company.

“This is really to honour everyone that has worked for our board, past and present,” said Seniors for Seniors executive assistant Linda Plowman.

Teas have become more popular since pandemic restrictions have lifted. While some volunteers still wear masks, Plowman said people were eager to come to this event.

“With COVID, everyone was locked down for so long,” she said.

While casual, volunteers and board members had fun with what is usually a formal dining experience, with servers in fancy dress bringing trays of sandwiches, biscuits and desserts to tables, as well as live piano and singing.

Due to COVID restrictions, the co-op couldn’t hold many social services, so this was a welcome event for everyone, said Plowman.

“It’s a great way for everyone to come back together and enjoy some camaraderie and good food.”

The co-op hosted a formal, paid-ticket tea earlier this year, which was so popular they needed to have two sittings. Plowman said they are likely going to make this an annual event due to the popularity.

While the tea was marking the anniversary, the group’s actual anniversary is Nov. 15, executive director Rob Lavin explained via Zoom. A larger celebration is being planned. The last two years have been rough on the organization, but the co-op was able to get through the pandemic and resulting shutdowns thanks to partnerships and the tenacity of staff and volunteers.

Seniors for Seniors provides services and activity programs for 50-plus people living in the community, said board president Don Kostesky. They offer social activities like cribbage, bridge and men’s club meetings, as well as healthy living activities like line dancing and yoga.

The heart of the co-op is helping seniors live independent lives, he said. One of the biggest is a meal program that serves upwards of 300 meals a week. The co-op has also had to take on more duties since Prairie Oasis Seniors Centre closed in July.

Kostesky said there was a meeting with the co-op and Prairie Oasis executives in June over the impending closure, which left Seniors for Seniors as the largest social and service organization for the city’s elderly. Co-op board members and staff offered to accommodate any programs and services that were running out of Prairie Oasis. Most of the social and game clubs moved to the co-op, as well as the meal program.

It’s never a good thing when an organization is forced to close its doors, he said. It saddened the co-op to see Prairie Oasis cease to exist after nearly a half-century in operation.

There have been challenges taking over providing services, he said, but they are adapting.

“It’s going to create more opportunities for us to help, and that’s what we are here for,” said Kostesky.

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