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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Westwood Council on Aging does quite a bit for their members. From exercise classes to knitting groups to lifestyle discussions, the COA provides seniors with countless opportunities to stimulate the mind, body, and spirit. There’s one program, though, that the seniors enjoy most, and that’s the monthly party. On November 16, the COA hosted their annual Thanksgiving luncheon, complete with a full turkey dinner, entertainment, and a room full of good company.
The seniors shuffled into the COA promptly at noon to find seats with friends, grab a goodie bag, and to get a peek at the Thanksgiving treats. As the staff and volunteers set up, the seniors enjoyed music from The Gilded Harps’ violin players. The star of the show was yet to come, though.
Selectman Mike Walsh helps serve the seniors a delicious Thanksgiving meal at the Westwood Council on Aging.
Soon, Westwood COA Director Lina Arena-DeRosa began sending up groups to enjoy a heaping plate of Thanksgiving favorites, including rolls, salad, cranberry mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, stuffing, and turkey. To add the finishing touch to the plates was Senator Mike Walsh, who ladled gravy over the seniors’ eats.
Catering the Thanksgiving lunch was a local organization that assists those with dementia. With dozens of pounds of potatoes and stuffing, two hundred slices of turkey, and twenty pies, the seniors did not go hungry. The seniors wouldn’t be enjoying any leftover turkey sandwiches, though, as the COA delivered all of the uneaten food to the Westwood police and fire departments.
Women at the Westwood Council on Aging’s Thanksgiving luncheon enjoy a delicious meal and terrific company.
Most of the seniors were just thrilled that they didn’t have to slave over the stove for hours on end to create the Thanksgiving lunch; that would be a task for the real holiday. After the seniors took their pick of apple, pumpkin, or pecan pie, Lina asked two of her volunteers to pick the winning raffle tickets, with a mug and gift card to caffeinate after the filling luncheon.
“We care for people with memory impairment, but really we’re all about family,” said Paul Jones, who works with the company catering the event and volunteered at the luncheon. “We want to bring families together and that’s what today is all about, too: being a part of the Westwood family, being a part of the Westwood community, providing a delicious meal, and being around people who genuinely care about and for each other. It’s a beautiful thing.”
With bellies full of turkey, stuffing, and potatoes, a group of seniors await dessert at the Westwood COA’s Thanksgiving luncheon.
