Over 40 seniors came out to the birthday bash celebration put on by the Senior Wish Association in Sandycove Acres Tuesday afternoon.
The Senior Wish Association was founded in 2011 with the goal of spreading joy and happiness to the senior community in Simcoe County. The party was for every resident 80 years and older.
The Spoke was full of smiling seniors thanks to the Senior Wish Association, as well as Mayor Lynn Dollin and members of South Simcoe Police and Innisfil Fire. as they enjoyed refreshments, cake, and the music of the Sandy Bottom Boys. Afterwards, all guests were given loot bags full of goodies to take home.
“It’s so good to be here,” said Dollin. “We’ve been through a lot—a global pandemic, a tornado—but it’s wonderful to see all your smiling faces here again. I can’t wait to turn 80 and move to Sandycove. I love walking through here on a gorgeous day like today, but mostly it’s the people. You all look out for each other and that’s very special. I wish you much health, much happiness, and happy birthday to each and every one of you.”
Linda Lewer and Linda Moyles of the Senior Wish Association try to organize as many events as they can for the senior community in the area.
“We felt Senior Wish would be a good initiative to have in Sandycove, so we brought it here,” said Lewer. “There are 80 residents over 80, and this is our way of giving back to our community. Any money raised for Sandycove is spent in Sandycove. We’ve been doing the birthday party since the inception (of Senior Wish).”
The birthday bash is only for residents 80 and over because Lewer and Moyles have found that many community initiatives for seniors are tailored to the younger demographic.
“So much goes on in the park for younger seniors and so we wanted to give back to our older seniors and have something for them. This is their day," said Lewer.
Donations come from various organizations in the community to ensure these events can be put on to keep the senior community active and for Lewer and Moyles, it’s indescribably rewarding to see how much it means to the seniors.
“There’s nothing better than this to see the smiles on their faces,” says Moyles. “The minute the tickets went on sale, my phone didn’t stop going off. And at Christmas, there’s tears in their eyes as well as ours when we drop the turkey dinners off.”
“This is our way of saying thank you for contributing to our community, thank you for being here, we love you,” added Lewer.
