Fundraiser to support senior center

A fundraiser breakfast to replace the damaged air conditioning unit in the H.E. Gritman Senior Center is being hosted by staff members from Rose Garden Estates on Saturday, Sep. 1.

The breakfast takes place before the Ritzville Community Parade from 7:30-10:30 a.m. at the Senior Center. Biscuits and gravy, or breakfast burritos, served with coffee or juice cost $5, while maple bars with coffee or juice costs $2.

A silent auction is also ongoing during the breakfast and the fundraising group is continuing to look for donations for the silent auction.

Rose Garden staff members Judy Adams and Marie Borth said many of the residents utilize the Senior Center and having a broken air conditioning unit can be especially hard on the seniors during the summer months. Fans are currently cooling the center, which continues to allow meals to be served there three times a week.

“We knew they didn’t have the money to replace the unit and it was a burden on my heart,” Adams said.

The estimated cost for replacing unit is around $2,900, which includes an air conditioning and furnace unit. The current unit is about 42 years old and stopped working earlier this year, previous to the beginning of the summer months.

The center typically holds monthly potlucks for the community but has canceled all of them during the summer months. The members involved with replacing the air conditioning unit hope it will help allow members to come to the center for meals and potlucks.

“It’s open to the community, it is there for everyone,” said Shirley Kline.

“It’s a great time to socialize,” Adams added.

The group organizing the event decided that hosting the breakfast before the community parade would help bring all ages into the center and enjoy a home cooked meal. The Rose Garden staff is preparing the meal and Ritz Food Mart is providing the maple bars.

Since it is a community event, the group is encouraging members of the communities neighboring Ritzville to attend as well. The fundraiser also serves as a reminder that the senior center is available for everyone, regardless of age, and the fundraising group hopes to increase the amount of active participants.

Another project that is currently in the process of being completed is a mural celebrating the history and landmarks of Ritzville. The artwork is being completed by Tina Lee Fisher and should be finished in time for the community breakfast. The mural is going to be mounted on the wall, allowing it to be portable and moved if needed.

Adams and Borth spend each day working with the seniors at Rose Garden and understand the importance of keeping them in a healthy and active lifestyle. They believe that the senior center is an excellent place for seniors to maintain a social lifestyle with other seniors and young community members alike.

“I feel blessed to have the opportunity to help out,” said Adams about the upcoming fundraiser.

Kline, Adams and Borth hope to preserve and maintain the senior center to continue to create opportunities for individuals who frequent the facility. The meals have proved popular with a group of dedicated seniors, such as Frank Draper, who enjoys the home cooked and family style meals.

Draper moved to the Ritzville community about two years ago and has enjoyed visiting the senior center. The center provides him with a chance to socialize with community members and when asked what he enjoys the most about the center, his answer is simple: the food.

The senior center provides meals three days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, for a suggested donation of $5 and meals can be picked up or delivered. The only other consistent event at the center is bingo, which takes place every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

For more information about the event, or to donate an item for the silent auction, contact Adams or Borth at Rose Garden Estates at 659-4717.