The Elders Thanksgiving Dinner has given a free feast to Fairbanks seniors for the past eight years. Usually hosted several days before the holiday, it was paid for and coordinated by the Bentley Mall Safeway and the Westmark Hotel.
Alma Rider, secretary of Santa’s Senior Center, said the cancellation changed the center’s plans for the holidays, but she and others aren’t anywhere near upset about it.
“When they’ve had three- to four-hundred people there, that’s a big thing,” she said. “... Most of us have a place to go on Thanksgiving, and (the Elders’ Dinner) is the week before.”
Safeway store manager Rick Searles said volunteers couldn’t devote enough time this year to put on the event. Preparations for the dinner usually start in July.
The Fairbanks-area isn’t lacking in Thanksgiving get-togethers.
Others include a free Thanksgiving buffet at noon Nov. 25 at the North Star Center for Aging, though the event will only have the capacity to serve fewer than 50 people. Salcha’s Neighborly Organization will host a community potluck at 2 p.m. Nov. 26 at 8678 Richardson Highway.
i do know for a FACT westmark has been DEAD as far as customers in the dinning room lately!!
sooo whats the problem peeps!?!?!?just too stingy?
DNM should run an article informing the public.
My old fingers are dyslectic today.
They had no idea. (where, who, or when)
In the future if the DNS good run a small article informing the public about such events would be very helpful. Unless the did and i just happened to miss it.
when the community stops caring about
feeding it's elders!