Community Volunteers Provide Warm Thanksgiving Meal for Dexter Seniors

While most residents were home nursing a turkey food coma or out hitting the stores for Black Friday, a dedicated band of representatives from various service clubs throughout Dexter joined forces to provide a warm Thanksgiving meal for dozens of senior citizens at the Dexter Senior Center.

The 10th annual "" event is a joint effort between the Dexter , , Boy Scout Troop 477, local church groups and the Leos Club and Key Club.

"We usually serve up to 200 dinners between the seniors and the volunteers who help out," Kiwanis Club member Fred Model said. "Every year the turnout seems to get larger."

grocery store donates all the food — including about a dozen turkeys — which are cooked and prepared along various side dishes of dressing, sweet potatoes, corn, rolls, cranberry sauce and pies.

"Busch's helps us out tremendously," Kiwanis member Joe Medrano said. "Some of these seniors have no other family or who are homebound and this dinner gives them the opportunity to spend time with their friends."

Boy Scout Paul Keenan said he enjoys volunteering at the event.

"I really think it's the best opportunity to serve the community and the seniors," he said. "I'm glad that they are able to come here and enjoy a hot meal."

Scouts Russell Milliner and Eric Bristow agreed.

"I also like the free meal," Milliner said.

Jack Brigham, scoutmaster for Troop 477, said he believes it's important to expose younger residents to community service opportunities at an early age.

"You can donate a dollar to someone, but when you give of yourself, you give something that counts," he said. "What we're doing here today is making memories that these kids will keep with them for the rest of their lives."

Robert Callfas attended the dinner with his niece, and said he is very appreciative of the volunteer effort.

"It's good," he said. "I know all of these people work very hard to put this together for us."

Ron Klumpp, a parishioner at , said he has helped out in various capacities — from serving beverages to busing tables — for the past several years.

"I'm here to help where I can," he said. "Some of the seniors have nowhere else to go on Thanksgiving and this is their family."

About 30 volunteers spent their afternoon helping out at the event.