In the sunny dining room at Iggy’s Boardwalk, a table for 20 filled the room with friendly chatter Thursday afternoon.

Friends of Warwick Senior Centers, Inc. was gathered to announce two new officers and kick off a summer full of bingo fundraisers.

The nonprofit group was founded in 1990 by members of various Warwick senior centers. The group wanted to provide funding to the city’s senior centers, which were facing a budget deficit, and develop more programs and services for the senior community. Today, the group’s most successful fundraisers are monthly bingo games.

The annual luncheon was the official start of summer for Friends of Warwick, which means no more monthly business meetings – just bingo. It was also a celebration to welcome new officers and recognize the service of retiring members.

Barbara Lundh, the group’s oldest member at 93 years old, was thanked for her years of service organizing bingo games and running the concession stand. Diana Flanagan was named the new treasurer and Ellie West the assistant treasurer. Flanagan and West were nominated and voted into position by the other members. To begin the ceremony, Vice President Verteal “Vertie” Patterson led the Pledge of Allegiance and President Elaine Bartholomew gave a short speech.

“Have fun and enjoy yourselves,” she said. “Thanks for all you do.”

Then Flanagan and West were sworn into office by Mayor Scott Avedisian while younger diners in the room curiously peeked over their menus.

Along with Lundh, Barbara Baguchinsky also decided to resign after holding her role of treasurer for four years. She will still be a Friends of Warwick member.

“She’s not only been treasurer, but she’s also been a big help with looking up bingo rules,” said Bartholomew.

Bingo is on the second Sunday of each month at the Pilgrim Senior Center. For Friends of Warwick, bingo is more than a fun game or an excuse to get together with friends.

“It is instrumental in helping make more money,” said Bartholomew, who has been president of the organization for ten years.

Each month, about 75 people play, and the money from each ticket sale is either donated or used to rent event space.

“We do so much for the senior centers,” said Patterson. “All of our fundraisers are for the senior center. Where the city doesn’t allocate money to them, we give them money.”

Friends of Warwick used money raised from bingo to refurbish the Pilgrim Senior Center. Donations are also made to senior organizations like Warwick Affordable Assisted Living.

While some members are only involved to play bingo with a group, others are invested in helping the senior centers. These members come to the monthly meetings, which are always held on a Thursday, to decide where to spend money or vote on where to donate. But even at the business meetings, there is a sense of community and friendship.

“I like working with friends,” said Patterson. “We’re all aging together and we’re all dedicated to helping.”

NEW OFFICERS: The mayor joined Friends of Warwick members to welcome two new officers during a luncheon at Iggy’s Boardwalk. Pictured left to right: Gail Sheedy, Diana Flanagan, Ellie West, Elaine Bartholomew, Mayor Scott Avedisian, and Verteal “Vertie” Patterson. (Warwick Beacon photos) RETIRING: At age 93 Barbara Lundh (left) is retiring from her role as one of the bingo organizers she is pictured with Diane Carley at the Friends of Warwick luncheon.