Spring Picnic Supports Valuable Service for Seniors

In early April, Willy and Inge Liesner welcomed about 45 friends and neighbors from The Buckingham to a picnic at Tosca Farms, the 50-acre farm and winery the couple has owned for nearly 40 years.

The annual springtime tradition sees residents enjoy salad, sandwiches and desserts, all prepared from scratch by Inge. To complement the lunch, the Liesners share wine from their 3-acre vineyard, which annually produces approximately 7 tons of grapes, mostly a dry Blanc du Bois.

“Inge prepares all the food herself — she gets five Willy stars, which are equivalent to Michelin,” laughed Willy. Transportation to the farm, located about an hour north of Houston, is graciously provided by The Buckingham.

All money raised from the afternoon is donated to Senior Rides and More, an organization that provides free transportation services to seniors in need.

“Inge is very active in charity work, which is key to this whole event,” said Willy, adding the generosity of their fellow residents has been overwhelming. “We raised about $3,500 for Senior Rides and More, which is an extremely valuable program that helps seniors get places.”