Everyone is welcome at the Senior Lunch Bunch, a program in North Salt Lake and Woods Cross that not only offers a free meal but an opportunity to get to know others around town. Woods Cross holds its Lunch Bunch on the second Thursday of each month at the Woods Cross Public Works Building, 2287 S. 1200 W. and North Salt Lake has a similar offering the second Wednesday of each month at the North Salt Lake City Hall, 10 E. Center St. 

Anyone 55 and older can attend a Lunch Bunch event and they don’t have to be a resident. More than 80 people attended the Lunch Bunch in Woods Cross last month.

This free lunch is more than delicious food prepared by volunteers and sponsored by the city. The Woods Cross Lunch Bunch has a delightful hostess, Marilyn Lavender, who is a quick-witted octogenarian who tells jokes, interesting stories and has even written a poem or two to mark a special occasion. 

She will introduce the “entertainment” for the month which usually lasts about 30 minutes after everyone has eaten. During July, for example, Jay Christensen played guitar for the group playing popular songs such as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and having the whole group join in singing, “Edelweiss.” Another afternoon also featured Christensen who is an actor in many church films and brings clips or movies and speaks of his experience. At Christmas, they usually invite the Woods Cross High madrigals to come and perform. The hostess also honors birthdays and small gifts are given while the audience sings the traditional celebratory song.

Additionally, the Woods Cross lunch bunch has a harvest table where guests can bring extra produce from their garden to share with their neighbors. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches, and garlic are often available. Zucchini can be abundant and no one is required to take one home. 

Finally, the group plays bingo. This is the highlight for many participants and becomes quite exciting. Participants are asked to bring a while elephant gift, and everyone goes home with at least one prize.  Those who win more than one gift can share it with their neighbor. The committee that plans the lunch, headed by Vicki Hinckley, also prepares some bell ringer gifts for lucky bingo winners. These gifts may be a basket with supplies for a picnic, root beer floats, or s’mores. 

Some participants come early to help set up the tables, while other’s stay after to help with the cleanup. To volunteer call Hinckley at 801-295-6388. It may be worth it to come at least once to the luncheon to get on the list of participants. During COVID, the committee sent gift certificates to Dairy Queen and Kneaders among other restaurants for their community isolated by the pandemic. Once they provided sunshine packs with a variety of yellow treats to cheer up the group who couldn’t meet in person for a time. 

Come feel the community as you enjoy a meal and entertainment at one of the lunch offerings in Woods Cross and North Salt Lake. Everyone is welcome. λ