Vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine shocked and delighted seniors Wednesday when he dropped in unannounced at Bethlehem's Hispanic community center.

The former senator and governor from Virginia, who Hillary Clinton chose as her running mate, poured milk cups and helped serve lunch to 44 seniors at the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley.

"It came as such as surprise," said Damaris Torres, the center program manager. She was told someone special would be coming to help serve lunch, but she didn't know who.

"When I saw him I thought, 'Wow, I never expected that,'" she said.

Kaine could have made remarks and left, but he came up to the serving window with Torres to hand out drinks and trays loaded with beef and mashed potatoes.

Kaine, who is fluent in Spanish, spoke in both English and Spanish to the patrons. He hugged some of the seniors, posed for selfies and gave the thumbs up for supportive comments.

"You guys hear that?" he asked after an exchange in Spanish with one woman. Kaine translated to explain the woman had said "I will help you all I can."

Center Executive Director Lorna Velazaquez said the center serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday to seniors and provides case management services.

Torres said the center serves 35 to 55 seniors a day.

The center also administers the WIC program for women, infants and children. The program provides education and food vouchers.

"It's a one-stop shop," she said of her center. "We do all types of programming."

Kaine made the pit stop before a planned speech at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hanover Township Community Center.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.