By Carolyn Johnson

This 4th of July, everyone at the Senior Citizen’s Center was thrilled with the turn-out and support for our 15th Annual Bar BQ Brisket luncheon. From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. some 410 individuals were served. The cool air conditioned building and the free refills of iced teas was a hit for all of those who had just spent an hour or more watching or participating in the parade in our summer heat. But there was more than just a good meal and cool air at the center. There was also loads of fun. Three Craftsman M270 self-propelled lawn mowers were given away in a raffle drawing. The winners were; Pedro Monroe and Margaret Hamilton from Muleshoe and Bernard Baca from Clovis, New Mexico. One of our board members Jerry Ruthhardt, donated the money to purchase these mowers so that the raffle sales were total profit to the center.
A thousand dollar shopping was also given away.
Muleshoe and Friona teamed up to provide gift certificates from each town’s businesses to make up the $1,000.00 total. The winner of this drawing was Darlene Pierce from Muleshoe.
The Muleshoe Businesses who participated were:
E-Evolve- $100 gift certificate
K&K Pharmacy- $70 gift certificate
Bi-Wise- $50 gift certificate
Fry & Cox- $50 gift certificate
Alan Mount Insurance – $50 Visa Gift Card
Mohawk Auto Parts- $50 Gift Certificate
The Thirsty Mule- $50 Gift Certificate
Jade Jypsy-$50 Gift Certificate
Tattered Tumleweed- $50 Gift Certificate
Monies earned from this raffle went to the West Texas Chapter, Alzheimer’s Association. It is through the help of this chapter that Muleshoe recently organized a Caregiver’s Support Group now being held monthly at the Center.
A silent auction was also held with home-made cakes, pies, candies, and cookies that the senior ladies and gentlemen prepared. We had over 50 items auctioned off that day with all proceeds going to our center. Thanks to everyone who participated. Thanks too, to Nelda Hunt and Darwin McLeod, who ran the event with assistance from Rhonda King and Billie Downing.
Kenneth Henry headed up the Veteran’s float for the parade. A total of sixteen veterans rode on the float which he and Ronnie Dent decorated.
Others who went over and above the norms to help make this event a success was; Springlake Potatoes who donated all of the potatoes for the meal: a few men who wish to remain anonymous donated the brisksets: the Center’s kitchen staff who planned, cooked, and served the meal and the administrative staff who worked overtime to keep the activities running smoothly: Maria Martinez, Lucy Bachecha, Jerry Ruthardt, Danny Stancell, Rhonda King, Mary Wausson, and Royce Turner who diligently sold the raffle tickets; and Eva Nell and Cyrus Dale who worked the ticket table for the meal.
Don’t you just love it when an event happens to remind us how blessed we are to live in our community? The people here are so willingly to make a positive impact for such a worthwhile cause as our Senior Center. The space provided me for this article doesn’t allow me to list everyone who helped. Whether you bought raffle tickets or sold them, cooked the baked goods or bid on them, helped with preparation of the meal or bought tickets to it, decorated the tables or leaded them in and out- you helped! There were so many of you who helped in so many ways. We thank you all!
And finally, we thank our Board of Directors: Mary Wausson, Lucy Bachecha, Danny Stancell, Jerry Ruthardt, Julian Dominguez, and Geraldine Redwine. And a special “Thank You” to our Board President, Royce Turner whose leadership skills and worth ethics are unsurpassed. We hope to see you all again next year as we will celebrate our Sweet 16 Bar BQ Brisket Bash!