LYNN — Scores of elders gathered for a warm meal served to them by Mayor Jared Nicholson, city councilors, and School Committee members during the inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Senior Lunch at noon Monday.
The senior center was packed as city officials, dressed in green aprons, made their way through the room. They served plates of corned beef, potatoes, carrots, and cabbage to tables of smiling senior Lynners.
Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC) Executive Director Jim Cowdell said that although the event, which is sponsored by the mayor’s office and the EDIC, is the first of its kind for Lynn, the city plans to hold the senior lunch annually.
Cowdell said that Nicholson approached him a few months ago with the idea to hold some sort of St. Patrick’s Day celebration for the seniors. The city reached out to Brothers Deli, which donated the corned beef and vegetables; El Tipico restaurant, which made Latin American cuisine; and Mi Guatemala Restaurant, which baked a large cake for the event.
Senior resident Luz Santiago comes to the senior center every day. Smiling, she said that she thanked God for the delicious food, and that she had a lot of fun.
Lynner Cathie Harris said that she was grateful to the politicians for coming to serve her and her fellow senior citizens. She said the event was a great way for elderly residents to meet and communicate with city officials in their own space.
“It’s wonderful that the senior center has found a home and that the mayor continues to support us,” Harris said.
In a speech, Council on Aging Program Manager Tania Freedman encouraged the seniors to take advantage of the Council on Aging’s variety of senior services and to have a great time.
“We come for fun, we come for food, we have all kinds of good stuff going on, and we just really hope that we see you on a more regular basis,” Freedman said. “Otherwise, enjoy the cake, enjoy everything else, and most of all, enjoy each other.”
In a brief speech, Nicholson thanked the seniors for making the city’s new senior center a special place for Lynn.
“We’re here to serve you and to support you. A community can be measured by how we support our seniors and because of all of you, we’re proud of the progress we’re making,” Nicholson said. “We have a lot of work to do, we know, but you have already made this place somewhere that we can be proud of — that the whole city can be proud of.”
