Friends Of Newtown Seniors (FONS) is planning a Membership Drive-Dinner, with a goal to share its mission and accomplishments, future goals and plans, and hear from Newtown’s senior population what still needs to be done to enhance services and offerings locally.

The 2024 Membership Dinner is being organized for Thursday, April 11, from 5 to 7 pm, at Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street.

There is no cost to attend. Reservations are required by April 1, however, and can be done by sending email to info@friendsofnewtownseniors.org or calling 203-430-0633.

FONS Board Member Beverly Bennett-Schaedler said ideas and feedback are encouraged.

“We want to hear from our guests — what they like, what they don’t like, and especially what they need,” she said during a March 7 planning meeting. Bennett-Schaedler said she and other FONS board members plan to offer brief presentations during the dinner event.

There will be time for socializing before a buffet dinner and dessert are served. FONS Founder and President John Boccuzzi Sr will then open the presentations. Time for Q&A is also part of the evening’s plan.

Zach Macey will be performing music during arrivals, and the evening will close with the drawing of raffle tickets. Prizes as of last week included gift certificates for local businesses and restaurants, bottles of wine, two $100 gift certificates to a clothing boutique in Westport, “and other surprises,” promised fellow committee member Ann Durkin.

The mission of Friends of Newtown Seniors is to provide advocacy and services to Newtown residents age 55 and up. The all-volunteer nonprofit group is dedicated to helping the Newtown community address issues that affect the lives and well-being of seniors.

The organization was formed in 2016 in the spirit of the “thousand points of light” movement suggested many years ago by President George H.W. Bush. FONS accomplishes that challenge through new initiatives conceived and developed by its board of directors and by partnering with various nonprofit, for-profit, governmental, political, and religious organizations serving the Newtown senior population. Friends of Newtown Seniors welcomes new members. Membership is free and open to all, of any age.