Close to 300 seniors gathered at Maple Ridge Alliance Church for the annual Christmas lunch put on by Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
The event provided seniors with a free, full traditional turkey feast, with all the fixings, along with punch, coffee, and dessert. There was live entertainment and Santa Claus even paid a visit.
Community services has been putting on the lunch for about a decade, said Joanne Leginus, director of administration and services with the agency.
It is a highly anticipated event.
“They really look forward to this event. For many seniors, this is their Christmas meal,” said Leginus.
“They call us four times, some of them, to make sure they are registered. It’s a big deal.”
96-year-old Florence Teal was at the event with her friend, 87-year-old Sylvia Cobb.
This is Teal’s second year attending the lunch, which she attended for the “fantastic feast.”
Cobb, who has been attending for the past two to three years, said she enjoys the atmosphere and the food.
The meal was prepared by the Salvation Army and served by about 25 volunteers, who did everything from making the punch and coffee, registering the guests, plating the food, and helping guests to their tables.
There were even volunteer drivers who picked up seniors who had no transportation to the church at 203 Street and Dewdney Trunk Road, and then took them back home again.
Others had their taxis covered by community services.
“It’s just a very special day – for the seniors, but also for staff and volunteers and for everyone involved. It’s giving back,” Leginus said.
The Thirsty Thursday Book Club, a local reading club with 14 members who usually have a gift exchange for the holidays, decided to help local seniors out this year instead.
Members Jody Johnson, Ursula Luitingh, and others from the group were volunteering at the lunch.
Their group also raised $800, which they donated for the event, in addition to sponsoring all the turkeys for the meal.
Community services has been providing programs for residents of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows from early childhood to seniors for more than 52 years. This year they served more than 28,000 people.