Sunshine Club donates to the GAF to help fund Meals on Wheels LB
The Sunshine Club donated $1,500 to the Golden Age Foundation (GAF) to financially assist residents with Meals on Wheels, Long Beach.
Sunshine Club began on Jan. 12, 2012, with the mission of “Building Bridges for Brighter Leisure World,” by facilitating better communication and understanding between neighbors.
The club requires no membership or registration fees. With no emphasis on politics or religion, the club is dedicated to harmony and good relations between residents of all backgrounds.
Beginning 2013 through 2017, the Sunshine Club raised funds through holding rummage sales and other club events.
This year the club took two day trips to the Getty Museum and the Griffith Observatory. The club also hosted the 60th anniversary celebration of Leisure World. These activities helped raise enough funds that the Sunshine Club was able to donate $1,500 to the GAF, which is the club’s designated charity. The GAF will donate the club’s funds to Meals On Wheels Long Beach with specific designation to LW residents in need. Over the last 10 years, the Sunshine Club has contributed $6,820 to the GAF, including its recent $1,500 donation. During the pandemic in April 2020, the Sunshine Club also donated 400 face masks worth $1,200, when the items were in short supply and high demand. In 2021, the club donated a second bus bench which is located in front of the Recreation Office. The first bench is in front of the Optum Healthcare Center Pharmacy. Both benches offer comfort to residents while waiting for the bus.
The Sunshine Club meetings attract an average attendance of 45-55 people, sometimes even reaching room maximum capacity. The first meeting hosted 12 residents, who read the LW Weekly together. Frequent questions and comments resulted in the club inviting members of the GRF staff to attend and share information to the gathering.
The Sunshine Club continues to grow with different speakers sharing information on various topics. The club has frequent guest speakers from GRF and “outside the wall” to help residents get the most out of living in Leisure World. Speakers who share health and well-being information, as well as safety issues, receive a very popular response.
The Sunshine Club would like to thank the community and shareholders for their continuous support and attendance at the club meetings, and for their generous donations.
The club meets in Clubhouse 3, Room 2, every Friday morning from 10 a.m.-noon. The speakers’ presentation begins at 10. All residents are welcome to join.
For more information, text Anna Derby at (562) 301-5339.
Sunshine Club Treasurer Loni Gardette (fourth from left), presents a check to GAF President Anna Derby (third from right) and Heeja Alameida (second from right).
