On the second day of the annual Cypress Senior Center Bake Sale, Tuesday May 7th, there is a wonderful smell in the air.
Walking into the Cypress Senior Center which is tucked away off Grindlay Street in the City of Cypress, one is met with smiling faces and wonderful baked goods. Three big tables are set up inside, filled with everything from pies, cookies, brownies and donuts to baskets of fresh strawberries. Event organizers Candice Cheung and Jessica Vasquez have both worked at the center and with the City of Cypress for over eight years. This year, the event has raised more money than ever before.
Candice Cheung says, “On Monday we raised almost six hundred dollars. It is really exciting, we have local restaurants and bakeries donating the goods to us and it makes a huge difference”. In fact there are over eleven local restaurants who donate to this event every year including local restaurant Dalton’s and major chain Marie Calendars.
Those who come to this center definitely know when the bake sale is getting close, as it is advertised in the newsletter and the weekly brochure. The prices are easy and seniors love coming in to their morning class and grabbing a treat on the way. Senior Mary grabbed a fresh doughnut on the way to her painting class.
Local merchants are also set up at the bake sale, with hand made cards and other crafts for sale. Everyone at the center has a big smile on their face and is eager to help with this event. Two of the center’s senior volunteers are making head way wrapping up some cinnamon rolls. Betty and Lynn Wilton met at an exercise class at the center thirteen years ago and have been friends ever since. Lynn says, “Time sure does fly when you’re having fun”.
The senior center does so much for the elderly in Cypress, mostly all of the classes they offer at the center are free and they is no membership required. Jeff Draper recreation supervisor for the Cypress Senior Center loves seeing the smiling faces enjoying the bake sale every year, and the tremendous efforts made by those who donate and participate. Draper himself smiles as he says, “I have been here at the center for about eight years, and it is all about the people. Some people might think that working with older people wouldn’t be fun, but everyone here is always in a great mood, they come in every day with a smile”.
Next year maybe more Cypress College Students can get involved with the sale, and with the seniors it benefits. This bake sale was more then just sweets, it was about being sweet and helping others in the community.
The baked goods tables at the Cypress Senior Center Bake Sale.
Friends and Senior Center Volunteers Lynn Wilton (left) Betty Wilkison (right)
Senior Center Coordinator’s Jessica Vasquez (left) and Candice Cheung (right)
Senior Center Patron Mary buying a sweet treat.
