By Greg Goutous

From Greg Goutos
Brotherly love: Sean and Conor Quinn serve Omni resident Gloria Tulio at a Valentine’s Day dinner they helped to organize.The Omni Senior Living Community on Carman Road in Guilderland was once again the site of the Annual Community Caregivers Italian Night, which was held on Saturday, Feb. 16. This was the 12th annual dinner sponsored by Community Caregivers, a Guilderland-based not-for-profit organization that matches local volunteers with clients to provide non-medical services.

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the Omni Community Room was festooned with hearts and other decorations. Pink and red carnations were also placed on each table.

More than 50 residents enjoyed a three-course Italian dinner, all of which was donated by several area restaurants. The seniors also had the opportunity to hear about the various types of services and programs that are offered by Community Caregivers.

After the dinner, there were door prizes handed out to several lucky residents. The prizes were all donated by local businesses.

From Greg Goutos
Sister act: Guilderland Key Club members Katie and Angela Yang are ready to pour beverages at the 12th annual Italian Night dinner sponsored by the community Caregivers. Seated are May Kessler, at left, a resident of the Omni Senior Living community, and long-time dinner coordinator, Marie Kenney.Thirteen volunteers helped serve the dinner. This year, several members of the Guilderland High School Key Club participated, including Angela and Katie Yang, Kristine Liotta, and Mathilde Warren. Other volunteers included Pat Conti, Patrick Warren, Sandra Muller, and Nellie Goutos, and me. Special thanks also goes to Omni residents Marie Kenney and Joan Doohan, who assisted as the site coordinators.

Community Caregivers would like to especially thank the Quinn family for serving as the event coordinators, as they have done for many years. Suzanne and Kevin Quinn, along with their sons, Sean and Conor, volunteer countless hours to ensure the success of the event.

Both Sean and Conor have taken the lead in soliciting the many local businesses that donate to the dinner. They coordinate all the advance details; as well as decorating the room, serving the seniors, and handing out the prizes.

Community Caregivers greatly appreciates our local business partners whose donations make this annual event possible. The food was provided by The 99 Restaurant, Crispy Basil, Tesoro’s, Fiorello Importing, TGI Fridays, and Bountiful Bread. The tiramisu dessert was donated by The Highlands restaurant of Knox. Price Chopper, Hannaford Markets, and Wal-Mart, also supported the event.

Door prizes were generously donated by Robinson’s Hardware, Candy Kraft, The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, The Pottery Place, Carman Wine & Liquor, Trader Joe’s, Ryan’s Farmers’ Market, and The Altamont Enterprise.

For more information about Community Caregivers, please call the office at 456-2898, or go online to www.communitycaregivers.org.

Editor’s note: Greg Goutous is a volunteer with the Community Caregivers.