Serving seniors; Arcata Rotary sponsors Thanksgiving feast

Arcata, Ca., (KIEM)- 852 seniors were served Thanksgiving meals across Humboldt County Wednesday. Between holiday luncheons in Arcata, Eureka, and Fortuna, the Humboldt Senior Resource Center saw folks enjoying more than 250 lbs of turkey.

“There are still eight days till Thanksgiving! I’m going to be eating a LOT of Turkey.” Peter Shepard, who has been attending this annual event for more than a decade says with a chuckle. The Arcata Rotary has paid for, and plated, the food for the Thanksgiving feast for 37 years.

“What keeps us passionate is seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces,” Brian Lovell, the President of Arcata Rotary says. This is the club’s primary event for seniors, and people are quick to say one of their favorite meals of the year.

For Lovell, the event is special because rotary members enjoy chatting with participants. Shepard likes the event for a similar reason (aside from the food, which he says is delicious) he enjoys socializing the most.

“Our seniors are golden. They hold History in their minds and in their hearts,” Dorothy Allman, a volunteer explains. She also enjoys hearing attendees tell stories.

In Arcata alone close to 200 meals were served, at no cost to participants. This is a special rendition of a meal service sponsored by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Arcata perennially. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays meals are served to those 65 and over for the suggested donation of three dollars a plate. Program Coordinator Tasha Romo says no one is turned away because of unwillingness or inability to pay.