NEWBERG, Ore. — A generally quiet building on the west side of downtown Newberg was bustling with energy as the team from It’s Party Time Catering prepared more than 500 bags of food and valentines for its annual senior giveaway.
“It’s all hands on deck,” said It’s Party Time Catering and It’s BBQ Time PDX owner Viki Dyrdahl. “My daughters are out here, my staff is here, my mom is giving out snacks. It’s a very busy day.”
On Feb. 12, the catering team packaged 545 bags for Newberg-Dundee seniors as a way to support them during Valentine’s Day. They partner with the Newberg-Dundee Police Department to distribute the bags from Friendsview to Springbrook and private residences around town, reminding seniors that the community cares about them.
Each bag includes a light lunch, a box of candy, a bottle of sparkling apple cider, and Valentine’s Day cards made by local churches and elementary school-aged students. Recipients are limited to seniors living in the Newberg-Dundee area who are age 60 or older and have no income.
“The valentines are so cute, and it seems like people especially love the ones from the little kids,” Dyrdahl said. “Even the ones you can’t quite read all the words on.”
The senior giveaway began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when It’s Party Time Catering owner Viki Dyrdahl said her business slowed to a crawl and she was looking for ways to support her community.
Dyrdahl said she was delivering groceries to make ends meet and quickly saw that older residents in Newberg were especially struggling with social isolation. She saw an opportunity to help and created a senior-focused giveaway.
She posted on Facebook asking who might need extra support, and said about 125 people participated in the early years. That number has since grown to 545 deliveries this year.
“We had no idea what we were signing up for when we started,” Dyrdahl said. “It’s so heartwarming to know we’re making a difference in their lives, but also staggering to see how many people can use this help.”
She knew she would need some help to deliver and needed a nonprofit organization to assist. In 2020, late city councilor Denise Bacon connected her with Newberg-Dundee Police Department chief Brian Casey, who helped deliver the meals, starting an annual tradition.
On Thursday morning, department vehicles rolled out with trunks filled with bright red bags of food and bottles of sparkling cider, along with a list of names and addresses. Officers returned after the first round of deliveries to complete a second round.
At one point, the event expanded to four holidays throughout the year — Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s — targeting times when seniors may be missing family and friends.
However, multiple delivery days became too difficult logistically for the catering company and its partners, so Dyrdahl scaled the effort back to Valentine’s Day beginning in 2025. She said Valentine’s Day was chosen because it can be an especially lonely holiday for some seniors.
“I heard from a person who lost her husband of 65 years last year,” Dyrdahl said. “Valentine’s can be really tough for elderly people who have lost their spouse. If I can make a difference and help them feel cared for, that makes all this chaos worth it.”
Recipients sign up for themselves or are nominated by friends and family through an online form that Dyrdahl and her daughters post on Facebook in February. Recipients must be age 60 or older, live within 5 miles of city hall, and have no income. Registration is kept close to the event date to prevent duplicate sign-ups and reduce administrative burden.
The team accommodates a wide range of dietary restrictions and preferences. Dyrdahl’s daughter, Ashley Hauser, who is vegan, helps coordinate alternative meal options.
“It’s everything from gluten-free to vegan to vegetarian,” Hauser said. “We have someone who doesn’t want onion or pepper. We do our best to accommodate as much as we can so people can enjoy it.”
Community partners help provide funding and supplies for the event, including the Austin Family Foundation, Newberg-Dundee Police Foundation, Newberg Grocery Outlet, TK Clean Up, Country Gurl Candy, and Newberg Early Bird Rotary.
People or organizations interested in supporting the event can learn more by calling Dyrdahl at 503-703-5488.
