Danyell Sena and Christopher Thomas receive the first delivery of bags Tuesday on George Best’s 100th birthday. Learn more about the drive-thru lunch options at either center by visiting www.losalamosseniorcenter.com or requesting a newsletter at 505.662.8920. Courtesy photo

By JACK CLIFFORD
Class of 1995

Mary Venable and a handful of women opened up the White Rock Senior Center (WRSC) 25 years ago. Mary borrowed $50 to buy a coffee pot and some coffee.

However, she had a problem getting any men interested in joining the group. She asked me for some help to “recruit” some … maybe from the White Rock Quick Stop Gas Station. She knew I had coffee there every day at 3 p.m. with a large group of guys.

I told Mary I would give it a shot to recruit some of them. I had a pretty good idea that they wouldn’t be interested BUT I gave it a shot. I was SO RIGHT! 

“Jack, you’ve gotta be out of your mind! Old decrepit people? Wheelchairs, walkers? NO WAY!

So, I had to back off BUT I didn’t give up! I waited a few days and told them that I had gone over to the WRSC before meeting them at Quick Stop that day … and a lady had baked a full pan of Chocolate brownies with nuts! I ate some and they were … excellent … and FREE!

That did create some interest. Later I found out that some of them, too, were sneaking over to WRSC before meeting the gang at Quick Stop. Pretty soon they all started frequenting the place. Ultimately, to Mary Venable’s delight, the entire 3 p.m. Quick Stop gang relocated to the WRSC where we’ve been ever since.

Before long Mary had enough coffee jar donations to repay that $50 loan. 

And … the rest is history!