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Senior Living residents bake for others

Stephanie Webber Abington Journal Intern

Residents of Clarks Summit Senior Living, 950 Morgan Highway, baked over 500 muffins this past week to donate to the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton. The center, owned by Five Star Living, hosts about 80 residents. A few women there worked in the kitchen each day for a week helping to make the pumpkin and chocolate chip muffins.

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Margaret Cianni, originally of Old Forge, helps to bake pumpkin and chocolate chip muffins for the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton.

Abington Journal/Stephanie Webber

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Residents of Clarks Summit Senior Living, Laura Solfanelli, originally of Green Ridge and Elizabeth Squrre, originally of Middlesex, N.J., bake pumpkin and chocolate chip muffins for the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton.

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Senior residents are able to take part in a variety of activities each week. However, this was the first time that seasonal inspired baking of pumpkin muffins was being offered to residents. “We decided to do something different and not make the typical pumpkin and raisin this time,” Program Director Karen Fernandez said.

Assistant of Activities Charlene Cardwell helped five senior women Friday, Oct. 16, complete the last batch of muffins. Lillian Batzel, Green Ridge, Gene Yaworski, Dickson City, Margaret Cianni, Old Forge, Laura Solfanelli, Green Ridge and Elizabeth Squrre, Middlesex, N.J., all were enjoying themselves. “We had to make 600. Now that’s a lot of muffins,” Cianni said.

All five women took turns scooping the ingredients into the trays. Hundreds of muffins were already done and wrapped in bags at the end of the table. Starting one day the previous week, some women participated in baking as the first task of the morning. The last time they had a chance to bake was for Chocolate Day in September for Assistant Living Week.

Community Relations Director Sue Chapin mentioned that helping to donate to St. Francis offers a charitable opportunity to keep busy. The women themselves and Cardwell listed other activities that they are able to partake in throughout the year. Cardwell mentioned, “We have a theatre room, Wii game and they can play trivia games. They also do craftwork and create decorations for the building.”

Solfanelli also liked how the center often brings in entertainment and how the money from the gift shop goes toward the garden they have outside. Cianni added, “There’s a whole lot of bingo” in addition to casino night, exercise, bridge and pinochle offered to all residents.

The last batch of muffins was completed Friday and they will soon be delivered to help St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton. There is no definite decision if this particular baking will continue to take place each year. The senior women were definitely able to have fun though during the process.