The Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road in Marietta/East Cobb) is closed due to Covid-19, however, it remains closed for another reason. Extensive renovation is under way and the massive remodeling project won’t be completed until early next year. Normally, many Cobb County Senior Citizens enjoy the various activities offered at the Senior Center, plus, the Senior Center is the regular meeting “place” for the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K.
Despite these situations, a plan was “hatched” whereby the exterior area of the Senior Center could still be used for a special Holiday celebration. At the same time, it was most imperative that the Holiday celebration comply with current local and state Covid-19 safety restrictions.
Donna Kibbe, Program Coordinator and Viktoria Mihan, Program Specialists, both veteran staff members of the Senior Center came up with an idea that provided a Holiday celebration for Seniors and at the same time became the first ever “drive-by” Holiday Season Celebration at the center!
Donna and Viktoria are members of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K, so they reached out to Margy Rodgers, President of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K and asked if the club would help out …. and help they did!
So, on December 8 from 10:30am to 12noon, at the Tim Lee Senior Center , the Holiday Wonderland “drive by” event was held. Seniors were treated to … not one … not two…but three Santas played by Billy Rodgers of the Kiwanis Club of Lost mountain, Johnny Johnson of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K and Kris Komuda of Holbrook Life. Also, Gene Schumacher, member of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K volunteered his vintage “red” pickup truck, which was decorated for the holiday occasion and included an 8 foot Christmas tree in the bed. A large Christmas wreath was attached to the hood and Christmas packages were arranged at the front of the truck.
In addition, each “drive by” car was treated to a “Holiday Goodie” bag as they slowly passed along. A number of stations set up by such organizations as Atherton Place; United Military Care; Heritage of Sandy Plains; Humana; Mays, Ward and Dobbins Funeral Home, and Holbrook Life were placed throughout the parking lot. When cars pulled up to the decorated “Santa” pickup truck they were serenaded by the CHRIST Chruch Kennesaw Hanbell Choir. The chime ringers were: Erica Anderson, Deb Gerace and Susan Self.
Everyone had a wonderful time and it was a very creative way to provide somewhat of a holiday celebration despite what we have all been going through for most of this year. One senior driver shouted out “I wish we could do this every year!”
No one knows for sure when the Covid-19 pandemic will be over, however, everyone is confident that there will be another holiday celebration next year and hopefully, by then, things will be back to normal!
The Golden K Kiwanis Club was organized in 1991 under the Kiwanis International Organization to benefit the Children of the Community and the World by providing financial support and direct service to build tomorrow’s leaders. (501(c)(3) Non-profit). Before the COVID pandemic, the Golden K club met weekly at the East Cobb Senior Center, now known as the Tim Lee Senior Center.
