Senior Centers celebrate Christmas

Santa Claus was in town, and he saw a full house at the Waynesboro Senior Center on Wednesday.

WSC hosted a Christmas lunch for its members and members from sister Senior Centers in Staunton and Churchville.

The Centers hold similar mixers once a quarter, said Janice Gentry, the director of the Waynesboro Senior Center.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the members to be able to socialize with folks that they don’t get to see all that often,” Gentry said.

This year’s joint Christmas lunch was the first that the local Senior Centers have held together, said Gail Ham, the director of the Churchville Senior Center.

Close to 100 local seniors took part, with the lunch supplemented by entertainment and visits with Santa.

“You come here and get together, and you can mingle with everybody. I try to mingle with everybody, crack jokes. It’s nice. I enjoy it,” Waynesboro Senior Center member Larry Ransome said.

“I think it’s just wonderful that we’re all together. It’s the Christmas spirit that everyone should have at this time, love for one another, joy and celebrating Jesus’ birth. It’s just wonderful,” Staunton Senior Center member Marilyn McGonigal said.

SSC director Lynn Harris was all smiles seeing “so many people coming and enjoying themselves and singing and seeing Santa Claus and exchanging gifts.”

“It’s just been a great way to celebrate the holiday,” Harris said.