LYNDORA - Honors and ovations were on the menu Friday at the Lutheran Service Society's senior centers program volunteer banquet.

The annual event was held at the Tanglewood Senior Center.

With just more than half of the program's 542 senior volunteers in attendance, the society took the time to thank the volunteers for their gift of time and to recognize the 2005 volunteer of the year.

"This is the day that we the LSS staff serve you," said Maureen Huff, director of the Lutheran Service Society's Aging Services.

Opening the awards program, she told the volunteers that with their help, 70,000 meals are served in the senior centers and 76,000 meals are delivered to homebound seniors each year.

Before honoring the volunteer of the year, directors from each of the 11 county senior centers came forward to honor two of their outstanding volunteers.

At times emotional and often comical, each recipient was recognized with a history or anecdote about his or her volunteer service.

After the 22 volunteers were recognized, Huff came forward to introduce the volunteer of the year.

At age 92, Martha Pennington was recognized for more than 24 years of service at the Bruin Senior Center.

"One thing you notice about this woman is her smile," said Huff.

She went on to describe Pennington as a "spoofer," a term used to describe members of the Bruin Senior Center who enjoy entertaining through dramatic presentations, dancing and other events.

Huff noted one occasion when Pennington dressed up as Willie Nelson to lip-synch to the song "On the Road Again."

A resident of Parker Township, Pennington has eight children, 20 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Huff presented Pennington with a certificate and framed poster with the words "Together Everyone Achieves More."

"She's one of the best volunteers you'll ever want to have," said Marilyn Slagle, manager of the Bruin Center.

"Nothing's too menial to her."

Following the presentation, Pennington said she was not told about the award until arriving at the banquet.

Humble and happy, Pennington said she began volunteering at the center as "just something to do."

Taking the Butler Area Rural Transit bus to the center almost daily, Pennington said she enjoys meeting with new people and "having fun."

According to Huff, the volunteer of the year is chosen by the office staff each year with some input by the senior center managers.

The volunteers recognized by each senior center are chosen at the discretion of the senior center manager.

The 22 volunteers recognized, by senior center include:

- Bruin:

Louise Horner, Betty Campbell

- Butler:

Lois McKnight, Jean Mittica

- Chicora:

Mary Fallecker, Joan Garing

- Cranberry Township:

Harry Sell, Frank Kuszajewski

- Evans City:

Mary Bogacki and the late Edward Bogacki

- Mars:

George and Lois Polivka

- Mt. Chestnut:

Margaret Fassinger, Ruth Spack

- North Central:

Mary Wolf, Myrtle Johnston

- Slippery Rock:

Bill King, Bonnie Mosley

- South East:

Don Wise, Etoil Robinson

- Zelienople:

Leroy Stoops, Onda Young.