More than 100 senior citizens enjoyed a morning of fun and games at an event hosted by the New Destiny Church at Bridgeville Primary School last Tuesday.
Church administrator, Joslyn Staal, said the cowboy-themed event was aimed to entertain the elderly and make them forget about their problems for the day.
Residents from Athlone, Kewtown, Bridgetown, Silvertown, Sybrand Park, Welcome Estate and Greenhaven took part in line dancing, played games and learnt how to build a burger. There were also various prizes to be won.
Ms Staal said the generation of today often ill-treat the elderly and have lost respect for them.
“We hope that this day has reminded them of how much they are cared for. We just want them to relax and unwind. There are some of them in wheelchairs but they will not be excluded from the activities, our volunteers will help them with the line dancing,” she said.
She said many of the elderly suffer in silence and getting them out of the house was a way to create change for them.
“We don’t know what is happening in their homes, and so coming out of that situation or environment is good for them. Today is all about love and being free, and we hope they enjoy themselves,” she said.
Gloria April, 73, was one of the volunteers from each table who took part in a game where you had to pick a boot but one of them had a toy snake in it.
She said she really enjoyed being out of the house and had a lot of fun.
“For the church and the team to think of us and honour the elderly like this, I feel very proud of them. More people need to be aware of the elderly because some of them are very lonely.
“It feels so good to be here, I am a bit emotional because it just shows that people do think of us,” she said.
Seventy-two year old Albert Warden, who has been a member of the church for 30 years, agreed, and said that it was a “fantastic event.”
“I am happy and sad today -happy because I am really enjoying myself and sad because my wife was meant to come with me but she is looking after the grandkids today,” he said.
He said the event was a great way to reach out to the community and that it was a wonderful Christian gesture.