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The Duchess Club Fruit Basket Distribution

Tuesday, 09 December 2008

By Michael Bouvier Melbourne's Duchess Social Club prepared one hundred fruit baskets for distribution to senior citizens. The club of eighteen ladies tries to bring holiday cheer by delivering the baskets. Club president Bettye Murray said the club began in 1961 in a family home with just a few ladies. They wanted to do something in the community. She said the Duchess Club members have distributed holiday baskets for forty-five years. Mrs. Gussie Byrd was asked about the reactions of seniors when club members bring holiday fruit baskets. “The expressions on their faces just fills your heart. 'Thank you, thank you, for thinking about me.'” The fact that someone cares about them is so important. “Someone did not forget about them this year.” The community alerts club members to seniors who would appreciate a Thanksgiving fruit basket. Some referrals come from the churches and neighbors. The club also distributes fruit baskets to those in convalescent homes. Club members gathered in the carport of Viola Franklin's home to assemble the baskets. One suspects that some members may have been teachers. One held a knife to a grapefruit. “Now we are going to do some fractions. If I cut this in two, what do we have? Two halves. And if I cut the half in two, what do we have? Quarters, that's right.” Laughter all around. Clearly members were enjoying the task. There was careful attention to details, down to the colors of apples in each basket. “This basket does not have two red apples.” All was done in a spirit of bringing a gift of love from the heart.

 

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