County Seniors Spend the Day With Gamma Pi As Annual Banquet Brings Joy and Excitement

Every year about this time, Gamma Pi Chapter and the Friendship Charities Foundation, Inc. put out feelers in the local community about its annual Seniors Banquet and the response is always incredible. The was evident on Saturday, June 13, when county senior citizens piled into buses large and small, cars and vans that dropped them off at Greater Mount Nebo AME Church in Bowie for the 53rd Annual Seniors Banquet. As in years past, it was another full house and a full afternoon of activities that brought joy and excitement to people who are the backbone of the local community --  SENIOR CITIZENS.

Greater Mount Nebo served as a perfect backdrop for this year's event, thanks to the generosity of Bro. Rev. Dr. Gerald Folsom and his Executive Minster, Rev. Donna Durham and other church leadership. Bros. Terance Hare (Basileus) and Lucius Toney  are also members of the church. For nearly three hours on Saturday, the sanctuary of Greater Mount Nebo was converted into a makeshift dining hall to accommodate about 200 senior citizens, which rivals last year's record-breaking attendance. The food was 

The event was spearheaded by Gamma Pi's Social Action committee, headed by Bro. Weldon Gilchrist, Jr., and the nonprofit Friendship Charities, Inc., with Bro. Sheku "Shake" Alieu leading the charge from that side. Both men worked together to pull off the banquet. Bro Alieu has led the planning of many recent Gamma Pi Seniors Banquets.

 

Members of the Gamma Pi Chapter were temporarily turned into grocery shoppers, cooks and waiters for 24 hours to make it all happen with smoothness and ease. The seniors thoroughly enjoyed it! As they departed the sanctuary, the seniors -- many of them septuagenarians and octogenarians -- hugged and shook hands with the Brothers thanking them for a wonderful afternoon.

Saturday's banquet was also about terrific comfort food prepared shopped for, cooked and delivered at the table by Gamma Pi chapter members. It was also about social interaction with other seniors as well as with the Brothers of Gamma Pi, a Word from the Lord through chaplain Bro. Rev. Reggie Pickett, an informational talk about wills and estate planning and "legacy" from Ms. Mahasin el-Amin, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Prince George's County and the always-anticipated stellar praise singing by the Gamma Pi Chorale. Bro. Anthony Stewart served as Master of Ceremonies. The seniors also heard from a representative from the office of 7th District Council Chair Krystal Oriadha, and from Leslie Johnson, Director of Senior Affairs  for the Office of the County Executive.

Door prizes are always given for persons who can answer fun trivia questions and for the oldest man and woman. The eldest woman in attendance was 101 years old and the eldest man was 88. They received gift cards. Once again, Gamma Pi showed its chops when it comes to executing social action!  

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