By 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, 204 seniors had signed up for a holiday
turkey dinner, compliments of the Hollister Top Hatters motorcycle
club and Jovenes De Antano.
By 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, 204 seniors had signed up at Sunnyslope Christian Center for a holiday turkey dinner with all the fixings, compliments of the Hollister Top Hatters motorcycle club and Jovenes De Antano.
Christmas music mixed with hits from the 1940s played as seniors filled the church’s Jubliee Hall for the Top Hatters’ sixth annual turkey dinner giveaway.
“Last year we gave away about 190 turkeys,” said Top Hatter Marcelo Orta, who chaired the event.
About 30 seniors showed up at the inaugural event, Orta said. “Each year it gets bigger and bigger,” he said.
How big it would be this year wasn’t clear until Pauline Valdivia, executive director of Jovenes de Antano, reported that she expected about 300 people. After hearing that, the eyes of Top Hatters President Ray Alnas bugged out.
“That’s a lot,” he said.
As Valdivia walked through the crowd to the kitchen, many people stopped her on the way to say hello and give her a warm hug to go with the warm smile she shared.
Many seniors came to see friends and greeted them with hugs and kisses. Others were looking to meet new friends, such as Marcelina Miranda, a senior who recently moved from Gilroy to Hollister with her granddaughter.
“I’ve been wanting to meet other seniors since I moved here four months ago,” said Miranda, who added that she was looking forward to some time for herself.
“It’s hard,” she said. “I’m on welfare and I’m raising my granddaughter.”
The Top Hatters were ready to wait on the seniors hand and foot.
“All they have to do is sit there. We do everything for them,” Orta said. “It’s a full day’s work.”
On hand to be waited on were honorary senior members the Bravo brothers, Jess and Joe, who joined the Top Hatters in 1946.
“This is a nice event for the chapter,” Jess said. “We have other chapters that are just starting up with something for seniors.”
As Jess looked around for a familiar face, he wasn’t sure if he could recognize anyone.
“Faces change after so many years,” he said.
The festivities included raffle prizes with seniors in mind. The prizes and more than 200 turkeys were donated by the motorcycle club.
“Every family will go home with a turkey,” Orta said.
