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Sussex seniors dance, feast at CHEER picnic

Popular event at Trap Pond State Park returns after 2020 pandemic cancellation
Sussex County CHEER staff and volunteers are busy putting picnic food, including hot dogs, cheeseburgers and baked beans, on plates during a county-wide picnic and festival held Sept. 3 at Trap Pond State Park near Laurel. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS
Ron MacArthur
September 8, 2021

More than 235 county seniors and staff attended the CHEER picnic and festival Sept 3 at Trap Pond State Park near Laurel for lunch, dancing, contests and games with popular DJ Sky Brady playing the music. This was CHEER’s first Sussex County-wide, in-person event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. 

CHEER, open to seniors age 50 and older, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. CHEER provides a variety of services and programs to more than 30,000 Sussex County seniors, including meals on wheels, transportation services, in-home personal assistance, medical appointment transportation, support groups, nutrition services and a traveling grocery mini-mart. CHEER operates activity centers in Georgetown, Lewes, Long Neck, Milton, Ocean View, Roxana and Greenwood, along with the Sand Hill Adult Day Program and the Warren L. and Charles Allen Jr. CHEER Community Center in Georgetown. The 24,000-square-foot center houses CHEER’s new kitchen, hair salon, games room and fitness center. The multipurpose banquet room is available to rent.

For more information, phone 302-854-9555 or go to cheerde.com.

 

 

CHEER kitchen managers Beth Kirkey, left, and Theresa Podralski fill a tray with food.
CHEER cook Kevin Wilcox is enveloped by smoke from the grill as he prepares hot dogs and hamburgers.
Sussex County Sheriff Bob Lee volunteers each year at the CHEER picnic.
Genny Hines, CHEER transportation director, carries a tray of hot food to waiting seniors.
CHEER CEO Ken Bock helps his staff and volunteers by taking out a large tray of cookout essentials.
A large crowd of seniors from throughout Sussex County sits down to lunch during the CHEER picnic at Trap Pond State Park near Laurel.
Edie Hiner of Ocean View throws a bean bag during a competitive game of cornhole at the CHEER picnic. Hiner turned out to be the one to beat.
Singing and dancing are (l-r) Mildred Riley of Greenwood, CHEER cook Steve Carroll and Roxana CHEER Center Director Sharice Franklin.
DJ Sky Brady gets everyone circled up to do some exercises before playing games.
Picnic tables at Trap Pond State Park are full with people playing bingo. Nearly everyone was a winner.
Nancy Wolfe of Seaford and Frank Hunter of Ocean View are the final two competing in the Pass the Bob game, which was won by Hunter.
Frank Hunter of Ocean View is a winner of one of the many games and dance contests taking place during the CHEER picnic.
CHEER board president and active volunteer Walt Koopman visits with Sussex County Sheriff Bob Lee.
CHEER CEO Ken Bock, left, is introduced by DJ Sky Brady as he prepares to offer the blessing before lunch is served.
DJ Sky Brady does the Chicken Dance as he keeps the party hopping throughout the four hours of the picnic.
Dancing is always an important part of every CHEER picnic, including doing the steps of the Electric Slide.
Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, stops by to chat with seniors attending the picnic at Trap Pond State Park.

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