A day for seniors to get out and about

Seniors meet and greet during their monthly luncheon.

By: Leon Tovey
   MONROE — "I’m so glad you could make it," Bonnie Leibowitz said to an elderly woman who made her way with the aid of a cane into the activity room of the township Senior Center on Monday.
   "I’m glad I could make it, too," the woman almost whispered as she went slowly to an elegantly set table in the middle of the room and sat down.
   "It really is very difficult for some people to get out," said Ms. Leibowitz, the center’s senior outreach coordinator. "So when they do, we’re always very happy to see them."
   Helping those who have trouble getting out is the purpose of the center’s monthly Day Out Luncheon, Ms. Leibowitz said. The event is held on the second Monday of each month for seniors whose health or advanced age keeps them home most of the time.
   A guest list is assembled by Ms. Leibowitz and Carol Merwin, the center’s outreach professional, who make it a point of visiting the homebound and getting them out as much as possible.
   "There are studies that show a higher rate of decline among seniors who aren’t active," Ms. Leibowitz said. "We want people to know that they have a community here, that they’re not alone."
   On Monday, the center welcomed about 40 guests who were bused in from their homes around the township. As the guests made their way into the activity hall, they were shown to their seats by center volunteers like Rita Austie and Lila Laby.
   "This event is a lot of what the center is about for everyone: structure. You have to have some place to go," said Ms. Laby, who’s been volunteering at the center with her husband, Ray, for 13 years.
   As Ms. Laby lead an elderly woman in a wheelchair to her seat, volunteers Ed Jawidzik, Stanley Friedman and Jack Regan struck up a song to welcome the guests.
   The group led the guests through "My Country ‘Tis of Thee," "Roll Out the Barrel," "Babyface" and "You Are My Sunshine" as Ms. Laby and her husband began to serve lunch (stuffed chicken breasts and sliced baby potatoes prepared lovingly by volunteer Irene Lippert).
   Singing songs many of them remembered from their youth put the guests in a jovial mood (with the exception of one woman, who wept during "My Country ‘Tis of Thee," which reminded her, she explained, of her late husband) and by the time the musicians sat down to eat, the room was filled with the music of conversation.
   Mr. Jawidzik, a Jamesburg resident, smiled as he sat among the guests, trading stories with them about the Great Depression, World War II and children and grandchildren. A retired salesman, he’s been performing with Mr. Regan and Mr. Friedman at the monthly luncheons since they began 12 years ago.
   "And they still haven’t paid us," he joked.
   "We (seniors) believe in helping each other," Mr. Regan said by way of explaining the group’s commitment. "We all do what we can."
   And the guests at the luncheon seemed to recognize that. Heartfelt applause greeted Ms. Leibowitz’s announcement that the dessert had been provided compliments of the township Mother’s Club. And when she told them the small silver picture frames adorning each place setting had been donated by a pair of township children, Nicholas and Gabriella LaFata, their faces broke into thoughtful smiles.
   "Well isn’t that sweet," an elderly woman who identified herself as a resident of Rossmoor said as she fingered the frame set in front of her lovingly. "Those children’s mother sure did something right."
   And it wasn’t just the gifts that had the guests singing the center’s praises.
   Helen Simon of Rossmoor said she looks forward to coming each month because the luncheons often afford her her only opportunity to meet with other people in a large group setting.
   "I like coming here to be with people," Ms. Simon said. "It’s very important — especially when you live alone — to get out and socialize."