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Struthers students serve senior citizens at second senior citizen dinner in schools
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Christopher Noble, a fourth-grader at Struthers Elementary School, serves a turkey dinner to Carrie Ramos of Struthers at the Struthers High School’s second senior-citizens Christmas dinner Thursday afternoon.
STRUTHERS
Struthers High School cooks kept busy from about 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday as they prepped and managed the second senior citizens Christmas dinner.
Mary Carcelli, head cook at the high school, said she’s been preparing for the turkey dinner for several weeks, planning out the meals. She said she also brought decorations to hang at the event.
“I wanted things to be real nice for the senior citizens,” she said.
About 150 senior citizens packed the high-school cafeteria for the meal. Volunteers decked out the cafeteria in the holiday season colors of red, green and gold. The high-school and middle-school show choirs performed Christmas songs and dances for the guests.
Superintendent Joseph Nohra said elementary-school students were selected to serve trays of turkey dinners to their guests.
“It was a way for senior citizens to interact with younger kids,” Nohra said. “It’s basically to say ‘thank you’ to senior citizens. We wouldn’t have a school district if it wasn’t for them building up this community years ago.”
Though the dinner cost $2 per guest, Ron Shives, a school-board member, said the event was mostly funded by the board.
“It’s definitely no money-maker,” Shives said. “If anything, it was a service to our senior citizens.”
Senior citizens commented that the board invited them personally to the event. Many said they hope it will continue next year.
“I liked that the school invited everyone,” said Kenneth Kopp, one of the guests. “The set-up was great; music was great. I would come back if they do it again.”
Both the superintendent and board members said they intend to continue hosting the event.