Planning for the third event hosted specifically for the area’s senior citizens, the next Senior Fun Bunch program at the Escalon Community Center will be Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Hours for the event are 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“We’ve had about 60 (attendees) both times,” Tina Jensen, one of the ‘Fun Bunch’ organizers explained of the first two programs.

Jensen, along with Peggy Rocha and Ann Shaddix, serve as the coordinators and encourage all in the community to attend one of the events.

The idea behind it is to get seniors citizens out and socializing with others, coming together for some fun activities, refreshments and more.

Jensen said a new aspect is having assistance from Vista High School students, helping with the set up for the programs and earning community service credits. Some Escalon High School leadership students also help out as their school schedules allow.

“We’re going to have cookie decorating, a mask or hat contest, Bingo, refreshments, prizes and music,” Jensen said of the upcoming Oct. 23 gathering. “(Mayor) Robert Swift will be our Bingo caller.”

There’s no specific age requirement; all are welcome to attend for the fun and socialization.

Two more programs are planned for the rest of the year as well, with a ‘thankful’ themed event on Wednesday, Nov. 20 and then a holiday event on Wednesday, Dec. 18 featuring piano music and a sing-a-long with Victor Berg-Haglund. Hours for each are 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Also in the planning stages is a fundraiser, tentatively to be hosted in February, to help the ‘fun bunch’ raise money to continue the monthly senior gatherings.