Fun hats, box lunches: Senior Picnic draws crowd for drive-thru

MOSES LAKE — It was a perfect day to be out and about, and Kent Rukke said the beautiful weather was a good reason to drive to the Grant County Fairgrounds for the annual Senior Picnic.

“That and a free lunch,” Rukke said.

The seventh annual Senior Picnic was Thursday and drew a crowd of seniors, lined up around the parking lot at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Normally it’s a sit-down affair, but because the COVID-19 virus is still hanging around, organizers opted for a drive-thru event.

“A Day at the Races” was the 2021 theme, and participants were encouraged to wear their best Kentucky Derby hats. Ladies wore big hats, small hats, hats decorated with flowers and scarves.

“I made my hat, and I love it,” Nancy Bromily said of her hat festooned with bright red and pink flowers.

Seniors waiting in line said it was a great day to be outside.

“We’re here for the fun. Fun and games and beautiful day,” said Diana Myers.

Picnic sponsors included Samaritan Healthcare, Assured Home Health and Hospice, Confluence Health, the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, KDRM Radio, Summer Wood Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, Avamere of Moses Lake, Pioneer Village Senior Apartments, Aging and Adult Care, Moses Lake Senior Center, Brookdale Hearthstone and the Columbia Basin Herald.

The box lunches were prepared by a crew from Avamere of Moses Lake and the Moses Lake Senior Center.

Jodi Montoya, executive director at Avamere, said it took the volunteers about eight hours to make the sandwiches and fill all the boxes. Brookdale Hearthstone and Summer Wood Alzheimer’s Special Center also donated to the lunches.

“We all just chipped in,” said Elizabeth Tudor, an Avamere employee who was helping distribute the lunches.

Pat Simmons had plans for hers.

“I’m going to meet my friends, and we’re going to eat our lunch. Down at the Japanese Gardens,” Simmons said.

Organizer Terri Riley-Brown said she was pleased with the turnout, but actually expected more people. The week had a full schedule of events, Riley-Brown said, so she thought people had to decide which events to attend.

Participants also received a goodie bag, filled with items and coupons from businesses offering services for seniors. The vendors and sponsors also provided door prizes, which were given to people who found one of the plastic golden ponies in the goodie bags.

Vendors set up booths along the lunch distribution line, offering information about their businesses.

“We had great vendor turnout,” Riley-Brown said. “Every one of the vendors was just tremendous.”