Margaret Strawn stands proudly behind her birthday cake. Though they are celebrating her birthday on St. Patrick’s Day, she will turn 80 on March 29, 2023.
The fellas playing blackout bingo at Mary Dougherty Senior Citizen Center on Friday.
Bingo and birthdays
Seniors from the area converged at Mary Dougherty Senior Center on St. Patty’s Day to play bingo, eat cake and celebrate March Birthdays–of which there was only one.
This month the senior center celebrated Margaret Strawn for her March 29th Birthday, said Carol Somogyi, senior center manager.
“She turns 80 today,” Somogyi said. “We celebrate birthdays each month with a cake donated by Focus Care, themed toward the month.”
Margaret, along with others playing bingo and bingo blackout, were focused and competitive–very serious about their game. Margaret said it was hard to believe she will be turning 80 on the 29th.
“This cake is beautiful,” she said. Somogyi said everyone is welcome to play bingo at the senior center, which is played Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
“We do recommend that a donation be made, but anyone can come to play bingo and visit with our seniors,” Somogyi said. The senior center has an exercise event every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Crochet get-togethers are on Tuesdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Volunteer Hattie Roberts said she loves interacting with the seniors and was proud of the birthday board they had created for the monthly birthday celebration.
Roberts’ sister-in-law, Pam Roberts, volunteers on Fridays as a bingo caller, while others volunteer on different days.
“We always have a fun time up here,” Hattie Roberts said.
Somogyi said anyone with inquiries about the center can call Mary Dougherty Senior Center, on 507 S. Kaufman Street in Linden, at 903-756-7502.