The circus came to town last Wednesday, with guests invited to ‘Step Right Up’ to the Oak Harbor Club ‘Big Top’ for an afternoon of old-fashioned fun at the 14th annual BINGO Luncheon to benefit the Senior Resource Association.

Guests were greeted by performers from Power Entertainment Productions, including a handsome Ring Master, an impossibly ‘tall’ woman in red and a contortionist with more bendy moves than Gumby. But the real surprise came as people realized that the extraordinary clown with the mischievous grin was none other than SRA board member Trudie Rainone.

Ladies milled about sipping champagne and mimosas while perusing silent-auction items and purchasing raffle tickets for a lovely diamond necklace donated by John Michael Matthews Fine Jewelry, before heading into the circus-themed dining room to enjoy a luncheon of chicken Florentine with a dessert of baked Alaska and, during bingo, individual containers of popcorn.

“For over 45 years, Senior Resource Association has provided services to advocate for independence and dignity for older adults in Indian River County,” said Karen Deigl, SRA CEO. “Every day our Meals on Wheels, Adult Day Care, GoLine and Community Coach, amongst many other programs, provide wellness and peace of mind for seniors and their families in Indian River County. Our goal has always been to keep them healthy and in their home as long as safely possible.”

Thanking each of the sponsors, including ‘Ring Master’ New Vision Eye Center, ‘Big Top’ Pud Lawrence and ‘Strong Man’ Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery along with myriad others, she added, “Your generosity allows Senior Resource Association to bring program awareness through events like this. I can’t tell you how important you all are.”

After a video in which volunteers and seniors shared stories of the vital importance of SRA programs and services, it was time to get down to business. And that business, of course, was the popular purse game – which has women digging into their tote-sized handbags to whip out various unlikely items as called out by the host – followed by bingo.

Deigl said that after presiding over the purse game for many years, Pud Lawrence had “retired” from the position and had turned it over to last year’s bingo caller, the vivacious Anna Valencia Tillery. That, in turn, necessitated the need for a new caller, a position ably filled by Vero’s favorite up-for-anything attorney John Moore. He was skillfully assisted at one point by another beloved resident, the indefatigable Alma Lee Loy.

Then, daubers at the ready, their eyes glued with total concentration to the sheets in front of them, players proceeded to vie for donated prizes with a competitiveness worthy of the Olympics, already eagerly contemplating ‘better luck next year.’

For more information, visit seniorresourceassociation.org.

Photos by: Denise Ritchie
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: Denise Battaglini, John Moore and Alma Lee Loy

: Lisa Harvey and Anna Valencia Tillery

: Dawn Michael, Eileen O’Donnell and Karen Deigl with Power Entertainment Productions performers Christianne Burgger and Justin Shakeri and Justin Shakeri