NEWBURY — With a crowd so large it spilled over into the senior center’s meeting room, Newbury Council on Aging staff and volunteers pulled out all the festive stops Wednesday as it hosted their annual Thanksgiving lunch.
Around 70 seniors filled the COA, gathering around six long tables spread throughout the two rooms. Tables were festively decorated with flower arrangements, tiny pumpkin ornaments and little paper turkeys.
In the background, pianist Serge Novakov played lightly, providing just enough music so that folks could still talk over it.
Many seniors came with toothbrushes and toothpaste to drop off in a bin at the front of the room, part of the COAs recent push to use its events to give back to the community.
“So for this event we did toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, things like that, personal care items,” COA Director Cindy Currier said.
For catering, they brought in Newburyport’s Starboard Galley, with all the food, entertainment, and decorations sponsored by the Friends of the COA.
“They give a donation trust at the beginning of the year. We use it for events like this, to elevate the event, to make it something really great,” Currier said.
Refreshments available included apple cider, coffee and tea.
“Then they will have a full turkey dinner with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce, the whole bit. And then there’s apple pie for dessert,” Currier said.
Staff and volunteers brought the meals to the waiting seniors. Among those in attendance was Byfield couple Laura and John Short. Laura Short said she loves coming to the event for the camaraderie.
“We don’t have Thanksgiving at home, we have to travel to have Thanksgiving. This is a little easier,” Short said.
A member of the Friends of the COA, she said she is grateful for the staff at the COA.
“This is my second home. I’m not kidding. I’m down here almost every day. I only live, what, a mile away, if that. And yeah, I just love it here,” Short said.
Select Board Chair Bill DiMaio was also out enjoying the luncheon, sharing that he loves to see people taking advantage of the chance to socialize.
“It is a celebration of Thanksgiving, and I think they’re thankful that they’re all still here. They’re all together. They really do a great job here. Seventy people here today, that’s a huge number for them,” DiMaio said.
Currier similarly said her favorite part is watching the connections that form at these gatherings.
“A lot of people didn’t know each other until they came here. So maybe it’s different groups or activities that they’ve come to, and they’ve made friends here. So they’re their COA friends,” Currier said.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.