MARC accepts seniors across county
MERIDIAN — Time has been steadily eroding a 30-year-old tradition.
The Meridian Area Retired Citizens has been meeting for lunch and a program at noon on the fourth Thursday of every month at St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church, 125 Buttercup Road, for more than 30 years.
But, just as many other community groups, MARC has been losing members, said Margaret Hoffman, longtime president.
“When they first started they had 70 some people and everyone brought a dish,” said Pat Holben, the longtime janitor at St. Fidelis for close to 40 years, whose mother, Ruth Holben, was a MARC member.
“Now they have it catered,” Holben said. “I really miss that. Those old grandmas were great cooks.”
Holben got to sample the MARC lunches in return for setting up and cleaning up after MARC meetings.
“It started as a potluck but now it’s catered,” said Doris Mulneix of Connoquenessing, the group’s secretary.
“We are now down to about 25 to 30 members, said Hoffman. She said some members have died, and others have gotten too old or frail to make the monthly trip to the church.
“We have some 90-, 95-year-olds here,” said Hoffman. “I’m 90 myself. The 65-to-80 age group are the ones we want to reach.”
Hoffman said that while the group would like to get more members, the name itself — Meridian Area Retired Citizens — is a hindrance to recruiting.
“The name is a problem. People think they can’t join if they don’t live in Meridian. That’s not true. People come from all over the county,” said Hoffman.
“I live at Mount Chestnut, and some come as far as Dutchtown Road,” she said.
“People have a hard time with the name,” she added. “We were thinking of changing it to keenagers or something.”
“We have not been able to come up with a group name that includes all senior citizens,” Hoffman said.
“We are looking for more people. How do we get more people,” asked Hoffman. “We don’t have a paid membership. Anybody is welcome to come.”
“There are no dues,” said Mulneix. “You pay for lunch, $7.50, and put something in for the coffee fund.”
And it’s not just the food, or companionship or a day out that is an attraction for the MARC lunches, Mulneix and Hoffman said.
“We have speakers, singers, the Prospect chimers as entertainment,” said Mulneix.
Holben said, “They have programs’ people come in. They could have a minister come in, insurance people. They’ve had congressmen come.”
“People like to be entertained,” said Hoffman.
Mulneix said if people would like to join “all they need do is call me.” The number is 724-789-7191.
