More than 36 million Americans are considered senior citizens. To pay tribute to them and their contributions to our nation, we recognize May as Older Americans Month.

Thursday the city of Savannah held a Bingo Jamboree for hundreds of local seniors. Nearly 700 of them filled the Civic Center. Whether they rolled or walked in, they all came with one goal: to win at BINGO!

Most of the people in the room are 70, 80, even 90 years old. Back then a Cadillac cost $850, you could get a baby stroller for about $14, a glass of iced tea at Johnny Harris cost 10 cents, and a box of Kellogg's Corn Flakes set you back a whole seven cents. Now:

"The gas is too high and the foods going up too high," says 74-year-old Shirley Baker of the Brunswick Multipurpose Center.

"I don't know how we're going to make it," says 90-year-old Susie Alford, also of the Brunswick Multipurpose Center.

Aside from rising prices Seniors tell NEWS 3 other things have changed while in their lifetime – like the increase in youth crime.

"Parents can't raise their children now. We never heard of children trying to shoot the police and anybody else," says Susie.

Then there's the issue of social security. "It's harder for us people that are retired and on social security. They don't give us enough money to make it," says Shirley.

Seniors have some advice for younger generations. "Have a job," says Drrinda Davis with the Georgia Infirmary.

"Don't retire," is Shirley’s advice.

Though life may seem a little rough right now, the Seniors playing Bingo are trying to make the best of it. "I'm enjoying here today. I like to play bingo," says Susie.

And one thing that hasn't changed after all these years is the ability to have fun.

Older Americans Month
Older Americans Month originated with a presidential proclamation in May 1963. In 2004, the median income of senior citizen households was a little more than $24,000. The poverty rate for people 65 and older was 9.8 percent. The annual percentage of seniors' personal income that comes from social security payments was 39 percent.