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4th Annual Senior Citizen Turkey Dinner in Struthers a hit
Struthers schools show hearty appreciation to senior citizens at annual turkey dinner
By GRAIG GRAZIOSI
STRUTHERS
Turkey was on the menu for the second week in a row for Struthers senior citizens.
The Struthers school board hosted its fourth Annual Senior Citizen Turkey Dinner Thursday evening at Struthers High School, which featured performances by the middle- and high-school show choirs.
School Superintendent Joseph Nohra Jr. said the dinner was meant to offer appreciation to the senior citizens for their contributions to the city.
“These are blue-collar people who spent their lives building this city, and we want to make sure they know we appreciate them,” Nohra said.
Struthers students from each grade level helped at the event. Elementary-school students wore aprons and delivered food to the diners once they had been seated.
The choirs sang holiday-themed songs, and several televisions suspended around the cafeteria displayed a crackling fireplace to simulate a holiday-at-home feel.
Bob Noble, a school board member for the past 11 years, served food alongside his 12-year-old son Christopher.
Christopher, a sixth-grader at Struthers Middle School and a drummer in the school band, has been delivering food to hungry seniors since the dinner’s first year.
The elder Noble said the intent of the dinner is solely to thank and show appreciation to the community’s senior residents.
Ron Carcelli, a 20-year board member, added that the dinner was a good opportunity to teach students respect for older community members.
John Terranova, 70, of Struthers, has attended the dinner every year since its creation.
“It’s good because it gives us a chance to come and see what the kids have been up to and to connect with the younger generation,” Terranova said. “It’s important for us to support the community and to support our kids here. We have a lot of pride in the city and our kids.”
To feed all the seniors, Drew Clyde, the high school’s cafeteria manager, and her staff began preparing at 6:30 a.m. They prepared between 180 and 200 plates, while also preparing students’ daily lunches.
The holiday turkey dinner is one of two annual dinners. The other is a spring cookout.