The Center for Active Seniors is urging Quad Citians to join its newest “Party with a Purpose.” On Thursday, Nov. 21, CASI will host its first Blitzen Bash – one of two events created to replace CASI’s former Holiday Hat Bash.
“Fulfilling CASI’s mission for our community’s seniors is a big job,” CASI said in announcing the change. “The proceeds from the new CASI bashes help us get the job done.”
The other event CASI created to replace the 15-year-old Hat Bash is the Blarney Bash, set for Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.
That new lineup debuts soon with the Blitzen Bash, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 at CASI, 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport. Organizers say it promises a fun-filled evening of great food, music and entertainment.
The Online Silent Auction kicks off Monday, Nov. 18 at 8 am and closes at Blitzen Bash on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 8:00 pm. You can see the silent auction here.
Music for the event – presented by Davenport Electric Contract Co., Van Meter and Necker’s Jewelers – is by Freddy Allen Quarter. Festivities also include holiday desserts served by CASI’s senior living facilities partners, cash bars, Holiday HOOCH, games and more.
Tickets for the Blitzen Bash are $20 and available here. Supporters also are urged to log into the event’s online auction. It will go live on at 8 a.m., Monday, Nov. 18 and close at 8 p.m. at the Blitzen Bash.
The money raised goes to support CASI programming and seniors.
Secret Santas needed
Importantly, too, a CASI news release said, Blitzen Bash kicks off the half-century-old one-stop shop’s Senior Secret Santa Program. There partygoers will find Christmas trees overflowing with Gift Tags for the taking, filled with the needs and wants of low-income area seniors, CASI said.
Each year that Senior Secret Santa gift giving program ensures more than 1,000 low-income seniors in the community receive a gift and are remembered during the holiday season. Many of those seniors are alone during the holidays and wouldn’t receive gifts without CASI’s Secret Santas. Their gift lists are not extravagant and generally consist of everyday items such as laundry soap, socks, pajamas or new undergarments.
“The Senior Secret Santa program is one of our favorite events of the year,” CASI CEO Laura Kopp said in the release. “Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and gift givers, over 1,000 Quad City area seniors receive a gift and know that they are remembered during the holiday season.”
Through the program CASI asks generous donors to take one or more tags from the tree, shop for and buy the requested gifts, “and return the fits and tags to CASI where we will handle the rest.”
