Thanksgiving week kicked off Sunday, Nov. 24 at the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School with the annual Thanksgiving dinner. Junior High Principal Kevin Brogioli hosted the holiday feast for tri-town seniors.

Students and staff assisted Brogioli. More than 60 students in eight grade volunteered to be greeters, servers and cleanup crew. Also, 14 school staff members and eight cafeteria workers volunteered. The noontime dinner, which consisted of Thanksgiving classics, was purchased with donations from each of the tri-town police departments. Local businesses donated door prizes and apple pies.

According to Brogioli, about 250 senior citizens attended the dinner. This was Brogioli’s seventh year running the event, but he says the tradition has been around for 37 years. “It’s a worthwhile tradition,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to be a part of; a good experience for [students and seniors].”

For quite a few senior attendees, this was not their first time at the dinner. Dick Fleugel said has been going for “twenty-something years.”

Students, school staff and senior citizens all commended the friendly, warm environment created. Eighth grade server Madeline Scheub said she volunteered because, “It’s nice to help people and see them smile.”  Beth Martin, a junior high guidance counselor, has been volunteering at the event for the past nine years.  “It’s a great way to honor and thank the seniors,” she said.

For Carla Cafarella, a junior high language teacher, this was her first year as a volunteer at the event. “[I’m] really impressed by the effort of the junior high students and staff to welcome seniors of the tri-town,” she said.