Area seniors and residents of Evergreen Elm and Emery Towers enjoyed an evening of holiday cheer, replete with cookies, carols and, of course, Santa Claus, during the annual Era’s Less Fortunate (ELF) Fund Christmas Senior Bus Trip on Sunday.
Transportation, provided by the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) and Bradford Area School District, picked up residents and seniors by buses before bringing them to the Frame-Westerberg Commons building at the University of Bradford.
Patrons disembarked from the buses after viewing holiday decorations on houses along the way. They were greeted and welcomed to the venue by Santa Claus, played by Dick Williams, who handed out bags of holiday candies and treats.
“Mr. Williams has been a faithful Santa and volunteer for a good many years with this event,” recounted ELF Fund board member and event coordinator Harrijane Hannon Moore.
“I am invited each year and I absolutely love to play my part, including speaking with all the polite, beautiful, little children,” said Williams. “This is the absolute best time of the year.”
Once inside, seated and comfortable guests were treated to hot chocolate and cookies provided by the university. While guests bantered amongst each other, the entertainment, which was organized, produced and directed this year by John and Heather Kearns with the Bradford Little Theatre (BLT), prepared off-stage.
The “Christmas … From the Heart” presentation featured performers from the BLT and Evergreen Elm singing holiday classics, such as “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Silent Night” and many other Christmas favorites.
Daniel Nordin, the pianist from the first BLT From the Heart show held earlier in 2018, provided keyboard accompaniment for the performance with Bob Swanson Jr. on guitar.
BLT will give a public performance of “Christmas…From the Heart” at 3 p.m. Dec. 16 in the Bradford Area High School auditorium. Proceeds from the event will benefit The ELF Fund.
Volunteer Judy Keenan was glad to be able to help with the senior party.
“When I moved back to Bradford I knew of Harrijane’s involvement with The ELF Fund and told her I would be more than happy to assist and give back to the community,” said Keenan. “I have felt so blessed and rewarded working with The ELF Fund and Harrijane — there is nothing better than paying it forward.”
She was surprised with the number of people it takes for The ELF Fund get through the Christmas season.
“All of the volunteers and community involved have done an amazing and awesome job,” Keenan said. “I never realized the amount of work involved but there is so much and everyone involved are so generous and hard-working with their time.”
The ELF Fund senior bus trip and holiday party, held two days after The ELF Fund’s gift distribution day, was the final event of the 2018 holiday season for the organization.
