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Fitch students, staff say ‘thank you’ to elderly
AUSTINTOWN
Fitch High School students and staff provided dinner and a show to seniors Tuesday evening at the Spring Senior Citizens Dinner, a semiannual event.
“It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the senior citizens of Austintown,” said Barb Kliner, grant coordinator for the district.
Kliner said events such as the dinner really put Austintown’s pride in its community and older generation on display.
“It’s a wonderful district. We have a lot to be proud of and a lot to brag about,” she said.
Kliner said she was first handed the responsibility of the dinner 22 years ago, when former board members tasked her with finding a way to give back to the seniors in the community.
“It kind of evolved over the years, and we had no models to go after, so we just came up with it ourselves,” Kliner said. “Now, the seniors look forward to it every year.”
The dinner, open to any senior citizen in the Austintown community for $2 admission in the spring or fall, combines a full meal and accompanying entertainment from students in drama club, choir and band.
“Where can you go for $2 and have dinner and then entertainment?” said Harvey Bloom, a regular attendee.
Bill Klein, director of vocal music, said he likes giving a “teaser” of the show to encourage people to attend their performances. The Fitch drama club will be performing “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Fitch.
Kliner said the popular dinner usually attracts 250 to 300 seniors – depending on the weather.
Austintown senior Norma Gottron said she’s been coming for the past 20 years and now comes early to save a table for her friends.
Students also help serve during the dinner as part of community service required for certain clubs.
Ninth-grade student Abrianna Greathouse said she thought it was a really “cool” community and school collaboration.
Kliner said she enjoys bringing the two generations together and seeing them mingle.
“It gives the kids a perspective of what the older people in our community are like, and it gives the older people in our community the opportunity to see how wonderful our kids are,” Kliner said.
Although Kliner said this dinner is her last due to retirement, she is sure the tradition will continue.