May is Older Americans’ Month and each year, the Redmond Senior Center (RSC) recognizes two senior volunteers who have given outstanding service to the center and the community at large, as well as an organization which has been very supportive of the local senior population.

This year’s individual honorees are Barbara Lester and Marty Berndt and the organization of honor is India Association of Western Washington Senior Program.

Redmond poet R.E. Smith spoke briefly at the outstanding seniors reception on May 9, sharing his thoughts about maturity, retirement, facing adversity and learning from life’s ups and downs.

Teri Burke, program coordinator for the RSC, introduced the award winners, who were treated to a special dinner at Fairwinds Redmond and congratulated by the Redmond City Council earlier in the week.

Burke praised Lester’s five years of service on the Senior Advisory Committee, as well as sub-committees that planned special lunches and raised funds for the center’s gas fireplace conversion. Lester has also helped with city events such as Derby Days, Northwest Senior Games and the Fun to be Fit Fair, as well as volunteering with Camp Fire Girls, Beta Sigma Phi and in a junior high school nurse’s office.

On a more personal note, Burke described Lester as “a loving wife, mother and grandmother,” as well as “caring, kind and considerate … a dependable, willing worker who brings fun to any project.”

Berndt, a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer, is one of the most active volunteers at the RSC, Burke said: “He is always willing to take on another assignment and often goes looking for people to help.”

At the RSC, he’s been a front desk volunteer, past Advisory Committee co-chair, a member of the marketing sub-committee and organizer of the Veteran’s Day Celebration. As well, he has taken Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to help organize his neighborhood’s emergency response plans, is active in the Knights of Columbus and Veterans of Foreign Wars and has led outreach projects benefiting homeless citizens and soldiers in Iraq.

Plus, Burke noted, Berndt is “also the unofficial ‘handy man’ for many ladies in distress, often helping with painting and plumbing needs.”

The India Association of Western Washington (IAWW) Senior Program was founded in 1997 with a Health Fair.

In 2001, Jay Surati and Pran Wahi approached Burke with the idea to create a regular program for seniors from India, allowing them to meet others from their homeland and share Indian culture with the greater community. The Seniors From India lunch program features authentic vegetarian Indian food, music and dance.

The IAWW Senior Program also participates in such RSC events such as day field trips and grandchildren’s programs. Burke called the program “an outstanding example of seniors helping seniors.”

The Redmond Senior Center, located at 8703 160th Ave. NE, offers free and low-cost continuing education classes to adults of all ages, social dances with live Big Band music, health screenings and other services. Stop by the desk to pick up a program guide, call (425) 556-2314 or visit www.redmond.gov for information.

A pancake breakfast will take place at the RSC at 9 a.m. Friday, June 13. Cost is $5 for all ages. Pancakes, sausage and eggs will be served.