A group on local residents, under the auspices of the recently-formed International Friends of Aruba catered home cooked Boxing Day lunch for the home of the elderly in Oranjestad.
Organized by Merlene Purcell and Mashaelle Zeola the menu for the festive meal included just fried whole Tom turkey, creamy pumpkin soup, assorted fresh salads and delicious sides, flan with strawberries for dessert, cakes and chilled champagne, for a traditional holiday toast.
Esther Sprott, team leader at the home welcomed the gift-bearing delegation. She thanked the International Friends of Aruba for their generous gesture, then introduced the visitors to the home residents sitting in the facility's dining room, waiting to be served. The elderly eagerly shook hands, posed for pictures, ruffled children's hair, and in general were very happy to received surprise visitors on Boxing Day.
Mashelle and Marlene were inspired by the Meals on Wheels idea and wanted to give back to their host community in Aruba. 'We live here now,' they stated, 'and would like to participate.' Touched by the warm reception, Mashelle is already planning a bigger undertaking for Valentine's and Mother's Day. Among those who cooked and helped serve Indra Zievinger, Johanne Allard & Mike Jajko, Doerthen Teusink, Tina & Taylor Escobedo, Marci Guest, Mashelle & Rick Zeolla, Rona Coster, Mark & Marlene Purcell, Lavina, Stephanie Johnson, Claudia Jackson, Anju Trivedi, Cecila Lieuw, Aarti Daryanani & Diya Harchandrei.
The Oranjestad home for the elderly is run by SABA, Stichting Algemene Bejaardenzorg Aruba.
