Close to 100 senior citizens gathered among friends and family for a special Thanksgiving Luncheon on Monday, Nov. 21, at the Senior Center in Secaucus.
Secaucus High School students, along with council members and Mayor Michael Gonnelli, served the food. Seniors enjoyed a traditional holiday meal of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and stuffing, all donated by Good Fella’s Deli, a local establishment. Frozen food purveyor White Toque donated dessert and bread.
At the event, the seniors shared their thoughts on Thanksgiving and on local celebrations.
Cooking started early
“I like to see everybody together,” said Joyce Dispoto, 68. She has been a resident for 40 years. She has two children and planned to spend Thanksgiving with her son in California. Her favorite part of the meal is “sweet potato and turkey.”
“I love everything about Thanksgiving.” – Edith Izquierdo
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She said that she enjoys stuffing and mashed potato the most. Her plans for Thanksgiving included cooking dinner for 20 people in her home. “I already started cooking,” said Vitulano.
Touches of home
“Everything is wonderful. We always come here,” said Edith Izquierdo, 70, in Spanish. “I love everything about Thanksgiving.”
Originally from Ecuador, Izquierdo and her husband Waldemar had spent the last eight years living in Secaucus. The couple was off to Belleville to spend the holiday with their four children and seven grandchildren.
“Being together with family,” said Mary Capozio, 76, about what she enjoys most about the holiday. A resident of 26 years she personally loves eating pasta, but if she had to choose her favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal, it is turkey.
“Couldn’t ask for anything better. [It is] very good,” said Mary Dietzel, 85, about the senior luncheon. A resident of 27 years, she planned to enjoy her personal favorite, turkey, among family at her stepdaughter’s home in Secaucus. She said she had 10 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
Serving the community
“This is the most hectic time of the year,” said Pat Jakubowski from the Department of Senior and Social Services. Beyond the senior luncheon, she was busy getting holiday baskets ready for families in town. She said the volume of families on the food pantry holiday meal list had increased significantly and that volume was “way more than we normally do.”
Help from Secaucus High School volunteers provided additional support. Local teens felt inspired to take time out of their day to serve the seniors their meals during the Thanksgiving luncheon and make sure that guests had plenty of gravy and dessert.
“It is fun,” said Amber Martinez, 17, and Janina Rizzo echoed the sentiment.
Adriana Rambay Fernández may be reached at afernandez@hudsonreporter.com.