The Key Club hosted its annual Thanksgiving dinner for senior citizens in PA cafeteria  from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 19.

Key Club advisors Mrs. French and Mrs. Johnson worked closely with its members to raise funding for the event as well as cook, serve and clean.

The dinner is the club’s largest event of the year.. 

The Thanksgiving meal featured a classic Thanksgiving including turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce. In preparation for the event, Mrs. Colbath’s Foods and Nutrition classes also prepared various desserts.  

Senior Pressley Frazier said the Thanksgiving event is her favorite. “We get so many senior citizens to come to our school, all with smiles on their faces,” she said. “They bring their friends and always get excited about our raffles.”   

The preparation for the Thanksgiving dinner begins the night before at 5 p.m.  and  resumes at 8 a.m. the morning of the event. 

“Since this event has been around for so long, we are a well-oiled machine,” said Key Club president Chloe Culberson. 

Prior to the dinner, the students and staff running the event completed a Covid-19 screening, and masks were optional for those attending. To-go meals were also offered upon request. 

Last year, the Thanksgiving dinner received publicity from  Governor Chris Sununu, which brought a larger turnout. “We always have a good amount of people, but we always welcome more,” said  Frazier. 

Since the end of pandemic regulations, the event has started to return to a more normal feeling.  

“I participated in the event last year as well, and the turnout was a lot bigger this year. It was really the community together and having fun,” said senior Grace Simmons. 

 The Thanksgiving dinner at PA has been a long standing staple in the community and helps to bring senior citizens together. 

“This is my favorite event to put on. We always have such a good turn out, and there are so many people willing to help out,” Culberson said.