Local seniors age 55 and over can now enjoy social activities and a homemade lunch at the new Birdsboro Senior Club at St. Mark's Lutheran Church.

The club, which met for the first time on June 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be held on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Bingo will be offered on the first Thursday and crafts will be featured on the third Thursday. A home-cooked meal will be offered at noon with donations accepted for the lunch.

For the grand opening, more than 30 attendees enjoyed bingo followed by a lunch of baked chicken with buttered noodles and vegetables, which was prepared by church volunteers and St. Mark's pastor Jim Farnsworth.

"When they first got here, we had them register and then there was snacks and coffee and cold drinks," explained St. Mark's administrative coordinator Marsha Springel. "Then, before we started bingo, I introduced myself and pastor (Farnsworth), who gave a prayer. (Volunteer) Mary (Kilareski) told a couple of jokes before bingo."

Charlotte Swoyer was the bingo caller, and Uncle Jack's Corner, a local restaurant, donated the bingo prizes, which included paper products, cleaning supplies and other household items. Thrivent Action Teams provided a grant, which paid for the bingo machine and the reusable bingo cards that can be sanitized after use.

Following lunch, the attendees enjoyed a talk by Richie Bowden, who presented "Mission Trip Birdsboro and Beyond," detailing an annual effort where volunteers assist local homeowners with repair projects.

Springel explained that on Dec. 3, 2019, a committee of members of St. Mark's Lutheran Church met to discuss the impact of Berks Encore moving its senior center out of the Birdsboro Community Memorial Center. After much planning, it was decided to offer a club for seniors twice a month at the church. The club was scheduled to begin in 2020 but was postponed because of the pandemic.

"We are elated (at the turnout)," Springel said of the first session. "Our plan was to offer socialization and a good meal."

Transportation to the church is available for local seniors. "We had one lady take advantage of that (service) today," Springel noted.

The next meeting of the Birdsboro Senior Club at St. Mark's is scheduled for Thursday, July 1. St. Mark's is located at 5 Brooke Manor, Birdsboro. For more information or to request transportation to the next meeting of the senior's club, call 610-582-8167. More information about the church is available at http://www.stmarkbirdsboro.org and http://www.facebook.com/StMarksBirdsboro.