Fitch serves up gratitude to senior citizens

By JUSTIN WIER

jwier@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

About 200 senior citizens sat in the Fitch High School cafeteria while students and school officials served them a dinner prepared by the cafeteria staff.

It’s a biannual tradition in Austintown, which Superintendent Vince Colaluca said really speaks to the commitment of the community to the school system.

“We have 200 of the community’s senior citizens come out and enjoy a nice meal,” he said. “Everybody bonds and comes together to enjoy the school.”

Several members of the board of education, administration, faculty and students from the National Honor Society helped serve the food.

A lot of the people who attended have lived in Austintown for most of their lives, Colaluca said, and they’ve either gone to Austintown schools or sent their kids there.

Doris Vandenbosch said she had four children graduate from Fitch and has three grandchildren in the school district.

“I’ve been coming to all of them,” she said. “I really enjoy them. ... I’m glad so many people came out.”

The senior citizens are a vital part of the community, Colaluca said, and it benefits the students who come out to volunteer as well.

“These are the people that pass the levies and provide for the school,” he said. “So it’s good for the students to be able to give back to them.”

Tascin Brooks, who directs food services at the school, said they always try to incorporate foods that are served to the students.

“It shows that the kids are getting good things,” she said.

As she continues to help serve the dinners, she said she builds a relationship with local senior citizens.

“They get to know you, and they look for you every year,” she said. “It’s really nice to be able to talk to them and get to see everybody. It’s kind of like old family.”

David Ritchie, who serves on the school board, said people always look forward to the dinners.

“They ask me maybe two months out, ‘What are we having at our dinner?’” he said.

Patrick and Elaine Phelan have been coming to the dinners since they first heard about them. Elaine said she comes so she doesn’t have to cook.

“And I never cook,” Patrick joked.

But Elaine, whose daughter graduated from the district, said the dinners are always nice.

“Everyone comes in barely walking,” Elaine said, jokingly referencing the senior crowd. “But they have a smile on their face because they have somewhere nice to go.”