Making Christmas special for seniors

The holiday season is about making spending time and giving back, last week the Donaldsonville Rotary Club did just that with its annual Senior Citizens Christmas Party that was hosted at Palazzo Bernardo’s. The Rotary Club welcomed over 300 senior citizens in for lunch, laughs and love in an event where Rotarians like Cliff Ourso is proud to be a sponsor of.

Ourso’s family started the Dville nursing home back in the 1960’s and he was able to see first hand how much seniors appreciate “when people did the little things for them.” That’s why he helps continue this tradition, he said.

“I thank everybody for contributing to my family and my business over the years,” Ourso said. “This is just a way for me to give back to the community.”

The Rotary Club, with help from the Donaldsonville High Air Force JROTC and Ascension Catholic students, showed the seniors they are respected and valued in the community.

Rotary Club President Chuck LeBlanc said it’s all about showing them “we think about them, we care about them and we are here for them.”

“For some of these seniors, this will be the only Christmas they get,” LeBlanc said. “So I’m glad that our club takes pride in keeping this event going and when you see the joy these seniors get it just warms your heart.”

The Donaldsonville Rotary Club hosts this event annually for the seniors but also does other events in the community as well, such as going into the middle school and encouraging eighth graders to complete high school.

More photos can be seen at www.donaldsonvillechief.com.