Camaraderie Club offers activities for area residents

To give seniors activities to do – even during a pandemic – the Cornell and Lake Holcombe Camaraderie Club is still meeting on Mondays, 9-11 a.m.

“We are meeting at the Lake Holcombe Town Hall, which affords us plenty of space to social distance, but still be able to have that camaraderie and be with people,” said Kristine Hemenway, community education director at the Cornell/ Lake Holcombe 21st Century Community Learning Center.

Hemenway says anyone from Cornell, Holcombe and the surrounding communities, are welcome to stop in and see what the group is all about.

Coffee and prepackaged snacks are still provided during the meeting times, and masks are required for all attendees.

Hemenway says the first half hour is usually reserved for snacks and time to chat. After that, she says she tries to come up with some brainteaser games, trivia or games like BINGO.

“We’re having a Halloween party,” said Hemenway, of the upcoming Oct. 26, meeting. “We’ll have games and a Halloween costume contest.”

However, the Holiday Shoppes, usually held at the Cornell and Lake Holcombe elementary schools for students to purchase Christmas gifts, will not take place this year.

“There’s just not a safe way to do it,” said Hemenway.

Hemenway says they are also unable to take donations for the shoppes this year, because of a lack of storage space.

“Of course, we hoping that next December, we’ll be able to have it back bigger and better,” said Hemenway.

Hemenway says the Camaraderie Club is still sending care packages to the troops and that they are still accepting donations of money or supplies for that.

“We send a lot of snack things,” said Hemenway.

She says some of the goodies that are always appreciated by those deployed overseas, are beef jerky, gum and small packaged things they can put in their pockets. Chocolate products are not accepted.

“We are still taking names, if anyone has a name and address for someone who has been deployed,” said Hemenway.

Those who have questions or would like more information about the Camaraderie Club, can contact Hemenway at khemenway@cornell.k12.wi.us, or call and leave a message at 715-861-8011.