April 20, 2025 – Ham, bread, coleslaw, rice pilaf, and green beans were accompanied by laughter, hugs, and smiles on Sunday, April 20 as the Clovis Senior Activity Center hosted their annual Easter Luncheon.
Opening their doors wide for families, friends, and whoever needed a place to go on Easter Sunday, the center fed hundreds of Clovis residents with a delicious plate of food, courtesy of community donors.
Conversations buzzed all around the main hall of the center beginning at noon as attendees found their seats. Friends both old and new crowded each table, ensuring everyone had a place to be welcomed and enjoy their lunch among others.
City officials Amy Hance and Lynne Ashbeck were among those walking around the venue, grabbing plates of food to serve around the tables.
Two lively Clovis Police officers directed them, holding red pom-poms and giving notice to servers about how many plates to bring to each table. Their red pom-poms gave an enthusiastic energy to their servitude, bringing a smile to each attendee’s face.
While the police officers directed the serving traffic, volunteer Crystal Reed offered hellos to everyone, a gracious smile adorning her face.
“It’s definitely one of my ways to give back, and I knew when my parents couldn’t do it any longer, I’d be taking it over,” Reed shared.
Reed spearheaded the execution of the event, a major undertaking that included securing funding, organizing decorations and food, and other responsibilities, with the help of the Senior Activity Center.
This isn’t the first year Reed has been involved – her parents, Vicki and Richard Miller, introduced the idea to the Senior Center 25 years ago. Eventually, Reed took over and involved her own children and grandchildren in the event.
Reed’s generosity with her time and efforts have earned her a special place in the hearts of the Senior Activity Center regulars.
During the luncheon, one of those regulars passed by and stopped at her side, sharing how much she was missed at a wreath-making gathering that Reed has been absent from due to work commitments.
Others addressed her as the luncheon continued, expressing their excitement for the upcoming raffle. Once Reed took the microphone to announce the prizes, attendees hastily searched their purses and pockets, looking for the tickets they had received upon arrival.
Volunteers were on hand to assist with delivering the prizes to the seats of their winners, giving out gift bags and yard / porch decorations.
The winners beamed with enthusiasm, raising a hand in the air and shouting “that’s me!”
Though not everyone received a prize, all were pleased with the lunch and cookies that had been provided in cute gift bags among the plastic eggs and other spring décor sprinkled around the tables.
While finishing their meals, attendees spoke about the significance of Easter in their families and what made this gathering special. Whether it involved family meals, church services, fasting, or other practices, each individual had something that made their Easter celebrations unique and lovely.
One of those individuals, Katherine Dictos, sat at a table near the front of the room, talking with her tablemates about her traditions attending Greek Orthodox churches, where Easter is the biggest celebration of the year.
They celebrate the holiday with religious rituals and family traditions such as the cooking of a lamb and midnight church services.
“They go to church at midnight, they wash their feet,” Dictos said. “It’s a very cultural thing for them…it’s very important to them, even more than Christmas.”
Tracy Mayfield and Brigitte Stovall, two Senior Activity Center regulars, sat next to Dictos, sharing about their own traditions of going to church and spending time with family.
Whatever your traditions for Easter, it’s clear that within Clovis, cherishing time with family and friends is a major part of this yearly celebration.
This emphasis on community and connection, so evident during this Easter celebration, will mark the remaining community luncheons in Clovis.