VALENCIA — Linda Leggens, the emcee, turned on "It's Raining Men" and announced "OK ladies, we have eight gorgeous hunks out there!"

Someone in the audience of about 30 chuckled: "What's that? Hunks?"

Dinner dates with eight residents of the Arbors at St. Barnabas, an assisted living facility in Valencia, were sold to the highest bidder Monday as part of Valentine's Day festivities.

"Even though you may live next to someone, you may not know who they are," said Leggens, the activities coordinator at the Arbors. "This is about getting to know your neighbors."

About 30 ladies bid with fake money on the chance to have Valentine's dinner on Wednesday. The dinner was planned at the Arbors for the 16 married couples who live there.

Six older bachelors, between the ages of 75 and 95, strutted in, all smiles before the giggling crowd. It seemed more of an activity for college kids than mature adults, but hey, it was fun.

The bidding also included two men in their 20s, who are personal care assistants that work at the facility.

The bachelors went from $6,500 to $17,000. Women eagerly held up the fake money along with their auction card, a heart-shaped sign with their number.

Leggens introduced each bachelor with a poem and a song, then called the auction.

The Rev. Leo Henry, a World War II Navy veteran turned priest, used the limelight to share the story of his life.

"I like to go with the ladies and they like to go with me," the 80-year-old joked. "I think."

With a flourish, he removed a handkerchief from his neck to reveal his priest's collar.

"Sorry, ladies, but I don't date much," said Henry, who retired 10 years ago after 50 years as a priest.

The bachelors also provided entertainment. Their "acts" included a dance to "YMCA" and bird whistles. One sweet crooner belted out "It Had to Be You."

Frequent whoops and cheers came from the audience. When one resident was not sure if she had enough fake money to purchase a date, the shout from the back was "Don't worry! You can write a check!"

This is the first Valentine's Day the Arbors has held this event for residents.

"It was tough at first, pitching the idea," said Leggens. "But (eventually) there was some excitement over it. (Responses ranged) from 'Oh, I don't know' to 'What am I going to wear?'"

"It breaks up the humdrum a little," she said.

Leggens planned to help cook the Valentine's Day dinner so residents could enjoy cordon bleu chicken and fresh green beans and potatoes.

"It's giving them something to look forward to," she said.

The women had fun.

"This was great," said Helen Menten, of Pittsburgh, who has lived at the Arbors for a year.

She eyed her win, W.C. "Moe" Mariner, 94.

"We're going to dinner," Menten said.

"You see a lot of people here, but you don't know a lot of them," said Mariner.

One of the gentlemen admitted he was skeptical about the auction.

"I didn't know what to think," said Marty Ponist, 79, who has only been here about three weeks. He had just met the woman who "bought" him.

"It's a good way to meet," said Ponist, who worked with electrical furnaces at steel mills in the Pittsburgh area for about 43 years.

"This means everything — humor compassion — everything," said Joan Thomas, who has lived at the facility for four years.

Leggens said the event got residents excited.

"The important thing is giving them something to look forward to," she said.