The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Each year Texas AgriLIFE hosts the Senior Citizens’ Rally Day which combines a health fair with a free meal and Bingo. This year’s event is the 43rd annual and is scheduled for May 8 and will be held at the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) hall in Orange.

“Hooked on Health” is the theme and participants are encouraged to dress accordingly in the fishing theme. The rally is a project of the extension office’s Committee on Aging overseen by Paula Tacker, the county extension agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.

A popular event, the rally brings in seniors from all over Orange County and some former citizens that have left the area. “We start the day off with Bingo and they can walk around a see the different vendors,” said Tacker. ”We have about 42 vendors and different people that are there to promote their services or their products.”

“We’re gonna have a fish dinner for lunch. I know my volunteers have been waiting to have fish for a long time, so we are going to have it fried on site,” said Tacker. “I know it’s not the healthiest, but we don’t eat like that every day.

“We’re going to talk about heart health.”

Prizes are awarded and the Senior Citizens of the Year are recognized. “We’re going to give awards to the man and woman ‘Sr. Citizen of the Year’ for outstanding community service,” said Tacker. “We are also going to give awards to the people that traveled the farthest; who has the most grandkids and great-grandkid; and have come the most years.” The ‘Citizen of the Year’ recipients will receive plaques while the others will be awarded certificates and gift cards.

The ‘Senior Citizens of the Year’ were selected from applications that were received by April 16. Taken into consideration for the award are nominees’ service to mankind, roles in leadership and contributions. “That’ll be a surprise to them,” said Tacker.

“Our emcee is going to be Judge Thibodeaux. Representative Mike Hamilton is going to present our awards,” said Tacker. Britt Godwin will provide the entertainment.

Tacker said the purpose of the annual event is to help people in our community know what services are available. “Most of the services come out of Beaumont and people don’t always know what’s available to them.”

The health fair is scheduled 9-11 a.m.; Bingo is 10-11:15 a.m.; 11:15-11:45- Guest speaker; 11:45 invocation, meal and entertainment.

The VFW is located on North Texas 87 in Orange. For more information call the AgriLIFE office at 409-882-7010.

The Lions Eye Bank is requesting old or unused eyeglass donations.