Senior Services Chair 2024-2025: JoAnne McKee
If you believe that wisdom comes with age, Senior Services may be able to teach you a thing or two. Meeting eight times a year on the third Wednesday of the month, club members present a program and a workshop for local senior groups under the direction of the Senior Services committee chair.
Seniors Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! – March 2025
Photos by Diane Macrides
Submitted by Diane Macrides
St. Patrick’s Day was joyfully celebrated with the Meals-on-Wheels group and the Senior Services Committee from The Garden Club of LBI on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. This collaboration allowed the Club members to share their gardening skills with the guests as they worked together to create beautiful floral arrangements.
The Activities Center at the Ocean County Southern Service Center in Manahawkin was bustling with thirty joyful guests! Their vibrant outfits captured the essence of Irish culture, contributing to a lively and joyous atmosphere. Some guests even were singing traditional ballads!
The ten Garden Club members provided flat, triangular-shaped leather leaf ferns, dense green solidago and golden mop junipers to create stunning greenery. The vibrant green-eyed daisies, paired with white carnations and green mini mums beautifully complemented the theme! However, the dark green containers featuring two gold leprechaun pipes were a standout attraction …especially since one of our members, who passed away last year, had specifically purchased them for this very special event.
This energy not only strengthens community bonds but also infuses love and creativity into the lives of seniors!!
Holidays are in the Air! – December 2024
Photos by Donna Erhard & Jane Niemeyer
Submitted by Diane Macrides
The members of the Senior Services Committee from The Garden Club of LBI met with the St. Francis Meals-on-Wheels group on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
Amid the stunning floral arrangements crafted at the Ocean County Southern Service Center in Manahawkin, the room was alive with countless heartwarming smiles. Guests chatted with seven Garden Club members, exchanging uplifting stories and cherished memories about their children, grandchildren and friends. More entertaining conversations emerged when a few of the guests discussed holiday cookies! After all, cookies have a way of spreading happiness to all!!
JoAnne McKee, chair of the Senior Services Committee, led the group of twenty with a combination of lovely leucoadendrons, mums, white and red and white mini carnations, sea holly accompanied by an abundance of assorted greenery from member’s gardens, silver sprayed crepe myrtle and pinecones. The flowers were arranged in used holiday cups from the Old and New Shop. “Flower arranging fosters manual dexterity, enhances well-being, and brings joy,” said McKee.
Wishing you and your families a joyful holiday season!
Seniors Feel the Spirit of Thanksgiving – November 2024
Photos by Donna Erhard & Jane Niemeyer
Submitted by Diane Macrides
Gorgeous floral arrangements were designed by 30 members from the St. Francis Meals-on-Wheels on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at the Ocean County Southern Service Center in Manahawkin. Before the session, the Senior Services Committee, from the Garden Club of LBI, assisted the attendees with alstroemeria, mums, carnations, asters, solidago, sea holly and greens from our members gardens for their arrangements. Each senior crafted two small Thanksgiving centerpieces: one to keep and another to share with someone they are grateful for. The guests took pleasure in engaging in the activities and appreciated the creative elements of the task.
Senior Services Chair, JoAnn McKee, described the event as “A wonderful day overflowing with joy, creativity and camaraderie. We are thankful for this opportunity to share time with our seniors!”
Happy Thanksgiving!
Halloween is Here – October 2024
Photos by Donna Erhard & Jane Niemeyer
Submitted by Diane Macrides
The Garden Club of LBI guided twenty seniors at the Ocean County Community Center on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. The seniors utilized mini pumpkins to combine mums, daisies, roses, asters, alstroemerias, solidago and greens from member’s gardens, crafting eye-catching mini arrangements.
JoAnne McKee, who serves as chair of the Senior Services Committee, led the St. Francis Meals on Wheels and Alzheimer groups to yet another enjoyable day! McKee remarked, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for our members to come together with the seniors and delight in creating arrangements. Providing them with something special not only enhances their experience but also brings us joy!”
The seniors, along with six garden club members, thoroughly enjoyed themselves while making Halloween inspired flower arrangements with the Garden Club!
Wishing you a fa-boo-lous Halloween!
Welcome Fall – September 2024
Photos by Diane Macrides & JoAnne McKee
(l to r) JoAnne McKee, Chair of Senior Services and Janet Nolan, Nutrition Site Manager at Meals on Wheels. JoAnne is holding an arrangement that the seniors will be creating!
Submitted by Diane Macrides
The Senior Services Committee from The Garden Club of Long Beach Island met with 30 wonderful guests from the St. Francis Meals on Wheels and Alzheimer groups on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at the Ocean County Southern Service Center in Manahawkin. Eight members of the Garden Club, including JoAnne McKee, chair of the Senior Services Committee, arranged a variety of fall floral selections in front of each guest to ensure easy access to the options. Members assisted and watched the group make numerous adjustments to create their very own lovely fall flower arrangements. The easy to maneuver mixed flowers featured a large variety of greenery, asters, mums, yellow daisies, solidago, alstroemeria & greens from the member’s gardens.
Janet Nolan, Site Manager for Meals on Wheels, stated, “The guests eagerly anticipate the visits from The Garden Club of LBI, which joins us eight times a year on the third Wednesday of each month.” Janet shared a beautiful quote to capture the essence of September.
“Autumn holds more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” – Jim Bishop
The crowd was thrilled to be back creating their floral arrangements after their last session in April. They radiated a vibrant atmosphere with a mix of old and new friendships, social connections and a buoyant display of happy moods!