The Birdsboro Senior Group at St. Mark's, launched in June of 2021 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Birdsboro, continues to offer a place where individuals age 55 and over can enjoy activities and a homemade lunch.

The group meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gatherings include refreshments and a time for fellowship and bingo followed by a guest speaker and the meal. Activities are free, but donations are accepted for the lunch.

Bingo prizes include paper products, cleaning supplies and other household items, along with beverages; eggs; and baked goods, including loaves of bread. Attendees also have an opportunity to win these and other items through a random drawing.

"We have bingo from 9 to 11 a.m. and a guest speaker. Then we do lunch," explained church member Sally Sassaman. "The prizes are anything from food to personal items - everything they would need."

Programs vary each session. Magician Chris Ivey performed on Aug. 7, and the meeting on Aug. 21 included a talk titled "Senior Scam Alerts." The meal that day included homemade sloppy joe sandwiches prepared by church volunteers Kim Arantowicz, Gayle Kramer and Jim Reeser.

"The tomatoes came from the neighbor's garden that I helped puree. So, it truly is a community meal," said Kramer.

It is not necessary to live in Birdsboro or attend St. Mark's to participate. "It's a walk-in and open to the public," Sassaman said, noting that the gatherings attract more than 50 people during each session.

She noted that the club formed when Berks Encore moved its senior center out of the Birdsboro Community Memorial Center. After much planning, it was decided that the church should offer a club for seniors twice a month at the church.

"It got started because they closed down the senior center and Marsha (Springel, church operations coordinator) wanted to do something for people here that came to Birdsboro," Sassaman said.

The next get-together of the the Birdsboro Senior Group at St. Mark's will be on Thursday, Sept. 4. There will be bingo and a speaker. Transportation is available. For more information or to request transportation, call the church office at 610-582-8167.

St. Mark's is located at 5 Brooke Manor, Birdsboro. More information about the church and its activities is available at http://www.stmarkbirdsboro.org and http://www.facebook.com/StMarksBirdsboro.