Seniors celebrate Thanksgiving with Kiwanis Club

The East Meadow Kiwanis Club treated hundreds of elderly community members to an afternoon of food and fun last Sunday at the 35th annual Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Dinner.

The event was held in the East Meadow High School gymnasium. Kiwanis Club leaders explained that the holiday tradition is especially important to those who wouldn’t otherwise have Thanksgiving dinner because they are either unable to afford it, prepare it or are living alone.

More than 400 seniors were provided with a free Thanksgiving meal. Attendees also had the chance to get together with friends and acquaintances, in addition to enjoying musical and other entertainment.

Before attendees arrived at 11 a.m., volunteers from the Kiwanis Club prepared the turkey dinner. East Meadow High School’s kitchen, custodial and teaching staff donated their time, and the following groups/individuals also supported the cause: Kiwanis New York District Governor-elect Stephen A. Sirgiovanni, Future Business Leaders of America, the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce and the Bristal Assisted Living.

Members of six youth service leadership organizations the East Meadow Kiwanis chapter sponsors were also in attendance, and the East Meadow High School Key Club, specifically, decorated the gymnasium for the occasion. The students chose a “Roaring Twenties” theme for the event.

Teens, Kiwanians and locally elected officials, — including Nassau County Legislator Norma Gonsalves, — greeted the seniors and served them dinner. Once they were seated with their meals, they were free to enjoy performances by the East Meadow High School Jazz Ensemble and Mark Breir, a local comedian.

Thanksgiving Dinner Committee Co-chairpersons Mitchell Allen, Mitchell Skoller, Dr. Alan Alterman, and Debbie Kirsh were the chief organizers of the event. The project is just one of the many Kiwanis Club activities that that benefit community members. More information about the group can be found at eastmeadowkiwanis.portalbuzz.com.