Fun Bunch celebration: six years, going robust

From a easy concept in 2019 grew a company that has supplied enjoyable for numerous senior residents in Escalon – and some from neighboring communities – because the Escalon Senior Fun Bunch just lately marked its sixth anniversary.

It was a mix get together and circus, hosted on the Escalon Community Center on Aug. 20, that marked the event. Longtime resident Ann Shaddix was the preliminary driving power behind the group, wanting to offer a manner for native seniors to get collectively to socialize and have enjoyable.

“I can’t tell you how much joy I feel right now … I just have tears come to my eyes,” Shaddix shared after listening to the Fun Bunch singers carry out for an enormous crowd in attendance on the get together. “Six years, six beautiful years of people working together; I love it.”

The group meets commonly the third Wednesday of the month, from 2 pm. to 4 p.m., on the Community Center. There is usually a theme, a visitor performer, a craft, and snacks to get pleasure from.

“You know, I think it’s just the happiness of being together and sharing with friends,” Shaddix mentioned of why she feels the membership has continued to develop and folks return for the month-to-month gatherings. “Just walking away from the world and coming in to a world of fun. They all mingle and they talk and they’ve met new friends … I just can’t tell you how happy I am.”

The sixth anniversary celebration had a circus theme, with Magician Shawn Durham offering the primary leisure following the Fun Bunch Singers. There have been additionally circus-themed snacks, together with cotton sweet served up in a sugar cone, cupcakes, and ice cream with a number of toppings.

There have been drawings for door prizes and seniors additionally had the possibility to get pleasure from Bingo, in addition to making an attempt their ability at a few carnival video games like ring toss to win some treats. A few picture backdrops have been obtainable as nicely.

Serving as emcee for the festivities was Peggy Rocha, who mentioned organizers have been extraordinarily happy with the occasion.

“This is our sixth anniversary and we’re so happy we had such a big turnout,” Rocha mentioned. “In fact, today we had the biggest turnout we’ve ever had, about 85 people and we’re happy to celebrate our sixth year and we hope that we go many more years to come.”

“We all feel like family,” added Lois Tilbury, one of many occasion coordinators. “After six years, 12 times a year, we’ve been doing this, it feels like family.”

The Fun Bunch stored going, even by means of COVID, when the planning group of Tilbury, Shaddix, Rocha, Cindy Moreno and Tina Jensen got here up with inventive methods to entertain with drive-through occasions hosted outdoors on the Community Center.

Since getting again to in-person occasions, the group has firmly taken maintain, reaching extra seniors in the neighborhood.

“And we never get tired of doing it,” Rocha shared. These individuals are so appreciative of what we do and we love each minute of it.”