PEABODY — The Peter A. Torigian Senior Center was all decked out in green and shamrocks as seniors from the city and surrounding communities celebrated St. Patrick’s Day.
Around 200 people registered for the center’s party. The event was mostly run by volunteers who worked the registration desks, walked around the venue ready to assist, and signed people up for multiple raffles. Volunteer Bill Drinan, dressed up as St. Patrick, walked around to take photos with people.
“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the volunteers,” Peabody Council on Aging Director Carolyn Wynn said.
“Everyone is just all hands on deck, all the time,” Council Board member John Sacramone said.
The Friends of the Peabody Council on Aging partially funded the event. Guests paid $15 to attend and were treated to a traditional St. Patrick’s Day lunch of corned beef, boiled potatoes, cabbage, turnips, Irish bread, and pistachio cake prepared by the center’s kitchen staff.
DJ Alan Labella was the star entertainer, encouraging those in attendance to form a line dance and sing along to classic songs like “Sweet Caroline.”
Susan Lowry, a Peabody resident and a regular at the Senior Center, commended the event’s volunteers for getting everyone to participate.
“They do such a good job,” Lowry said. “Everyone is friendly and happy, Alan Labella puts on a great show, and people in their 90s still come. There are a lot of lonely seniors, they need to know about the Senior Center.”
Administrative Assistant Carol McMahon also emphasized the importance of making sure there are many activities available for seniors in the city.
“Almost 37% of the Peabody population are over 60,” McMahon said.
McMahon said that even though there were twice as many people at the annual parties before the COVID-19 pandemic, many seniors still look forward to the event.
“They look really happy,” McMahon said.
