A Senior's Thanksgiving Arrives in the American Heartland

Thanksgiving 2011 is a few days away. The holiday originated in 1621 at Plymouth, MA. Two years later, Thanksgiving 1623 was planned, but the Plymouth colony did not have enough food to feed all of its colonists. Historians say that the local Wampanoag Native Americans assisted the Pilgrims with food provisions, and fishing instructions. The national Thanksgiving holiday originated from these humble beginnings.

From the Atlantic coast to the midwest, Mason City, IA, honored Thanksgiving 2011, with a feast for its seniors at at the local Senior Activity Cente. 1,000 to 1,200 were served this year, up from about 800 last year.

Louis Althof of Thrivent Financial, co-sponsor of the dinner along with the Senior Center, told the globegazette.com: “We have 28 turkeys and 16 hams and a lot of volunteers. We don’t even have to ask for volunteers. They show up automatically,” This is the 26th year Thrivent has sponsored or co-sponsored the dinner.

“I come every year,” said Donna Follmuth of Mason City. “It’s good food and you see a lot of people. I enjoy it.”

One participant, Lois Jean Vermillion, seemed to have offered the best reason for the Mason City Senior Feast. “I’m hungry,” she told the media source with a laugh.

Many Assisted Living and Continuing Care  Residences offer in-house Thanksgiving celebrations.