Upcoming Events in November & December 2022

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

November 18th:  STEDI Meeting & Breakfast.  $15.00 each.  This meeting will be held at the Senior Center of Rainier.  Meeting starts promptly at 8:00 AM.  George Sharp, from EDC, leads the meeting of Thurston County Leaders.  I recommend coming, if you're available.  A lot of important information about the economic development in south Thurston County is discussed.  We share future plans in our area, project progress and local activities that are coming up.  Resources to help build our community are discussed, as well as opportunities for grants that are available.

November 19th:  Pumpkin Puree.  9 AM - 1:30 PM in the FFH Room.

November 21st:  BINGO & Medicare Presentation by Elizabeth Thunstedt:  

• BINGO starts at 10:00 AM.  
• Elizabeth will come and help people look at changes in the 2023 Medicare benefits.  Bring a list of for 2023.  She will also make arrangements to meet you at another time, if you need her to research something for you.

November 21st: Pumpkin Pie Baking in FFA room at RHS from 3:30 - 8:00 PM.

November 23th:  Thanksgiving Dinner Luncheon.  We will be cooking and serving a full Thanksgiving dinner for lunch. (Regular lunch prices).  Please sign up at the front desk to attend as space is limited.  RSVP.

November 24th:  Thanksgiving Day Dinner.   We will be cooking 2 more turkeys for Thanksgiving Day dinner.  (Regular lunch prices).  Please sign up at the front desk to attend as space is limited.  RSVP.

November 25th:  Christmas Bazaar for Kids at the Rainier Chapel.  The Saturday Market vendors will have a special event where they sell items for under $10.00 for the kids at the Rainier Chapel.  1 PM - 6 PM.

November 26th:  Saturday Market Christmas Bazaar at the Rainier Chapel.  The Saturday Market will be held in the Rainier Chapel from 10 AM - 3 PM.

December 1st:  Christmas Tree Lighting in Holiday Park.  This is an activity that takes a whole town to coordinate.  

• We Love Rainier WA members decorated Downtown Rainier & Holiday Park.  
• The Prairie Point Quilters Guild cut and sew the patchwork Christmas Stockings for the kids.
• Members of the Senior Center of Rainier donate the candy and treats & fill the stockings for the Kids.
• The UN's "Save the Children" gives away packages with books and treats for kids.
• The South Thurston Fire Department comes and brings treats for kids.  Santa rides in the fire truck!
• The "South Sound Reading Foundation" donated 500 books for kids.
• The Girl Scouts are providing cocoa and cookies for kids.

December 9th:  RES Booster Club's Christmas Store for Kids.  Evening time.  

December 10th:  Lantern  Walk of Hope at the Rainier High School.  Afternoon, evening.

Update on STEDI Meeting & Pre-Valentine's Day Bazaar

What an amazing couple of days!  Donna and Cindy, who work in our kitchen, came in to help cook and serve breakfast for the people who showed up at the Senior Center for the STEDI Meeting Friday.  We started cooking at 6 AM and put breakfast out at 7:45 AM.  We had over 20 people attend and most of them ate breakfast.

Donna, Cindy and I all baked goodies for the bake sale coming up the next day at the Pre-Valentine's day Bazaar.  

Debbie came in and helped at the Bazaar all day Saturday and she brought a bag of goodies that she baked, too.

Art, Sue Watson, George and I were at the Senior Center both days.  Shirley & Sue both came Friday evening, to help set up for the Bazaar.

Sarah Christensen & Amber Chavis put on the most amazing bazaar!  If you didn't attend, you missed a fun event!  This was not only fun, but this was also the best, most enjoyable bazaar we've ever had at the Senior Center during our time here.  They set up and put everything back.  They had to take the furniture out of the back room to make space for vendors.  

Debbie and I served at least 40 meals Saturday to the vendors and their children.  We had breakfast croissants, polish sausages, turkey sandwiches, tuna Sandwiches, vegetable soup, split pea soup, chips, potato salad, and cole slaw.  We offered free coffee and snacks.  Sandwiches were made to order on their choice of bread.  (French bread, which we sliced, croissants or the rolls we use for the polish sausages.)  People had a wide variety of items to choose from for lunch.  Lunch was $5.00.  We provided this service for the vendors and their families, yet many, many customers ate lunch, too.

Our vendors had a wonderful time!  There was a constant stream of customers that came through the Senior Center from the time we opened until we closed.  Sue Watson and Shirley Roger had booths by the front door.  Shirley sold 4 cookbooks.  Sue talked to several people who are interested in joining our Senior Center.  She also sold several lunch tickets.

All in all, this was a wonderful experience. Amber and Sarah are planning several upcoming events to benefit the Senior Center, including a motorcycle/auto show July 20th in Wilkowski Park.  

Thank you, Sarah & Amber for all your hard work organizing the Pre-Valentine's Day Bazaar!  We appreciate your dedication and commitment to our Senior Center!