AUBURN - Guests kept coming and coming for a tasty meal and friendly surroundings at Booker T. Washington Community Center's Thanksgiving dinner Thursday night. Everyone was welcome.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Servers, from left, Chelsea Carter, 16, Shamierra Parker, 15, Courtney Condes, 15, Elisha Graham, 11, and La Tesha Tillman, 12, all of Auburn and part of the Booker T. Washington Center after-school program, dish out food at the community Thanksgiving dinner at the center on Thursday evening.
Servers, from left, Chelsea Carter, 16, Shamierra Parker, 15, Courtney Condes, 15, Elisha Graham, 11, and La Tesha Tillman, 12, all of Auburn and part of the Booker T. Washington Center after-school program, dish out food at the community Thanksgiving dinner at the center on Thursday evening.
About 150 people were seated by 7 p.m., an hour after dinner began. Most were families of program participants and friends who pre-registered, but many came in at the last minute.
Monique Wright-Williams, executive director, said dinner has been served for at least five years. Cook Bessie Williams, assisted by Naomi Hopson, put on a spread of turkey and fixings. Turkey ran out just after 7 p.m., but plenty of extras remained. The Salvation Army donated turkeys while the rest were purchased.
“We continue to serve right up until we have no food left,” Wright-Williams said.
Greeters Joe Salce,16, and Danielle Schmidt, 18, of Moravia High School showed people to tables. It was their first time at the event.
“I wanna eat,” Ethan Reilley, 8, said when he came in with his mom, Leigh, and little sister Kaiya, 5.
Alicia McLeod manned the sign-in table as two teenagers came but didn't have any money. Dinner was $2 for those 13 and older, $1 for children 5 to 12, and free for seniors and children 4 and younger.
“I'm not going to turn people away,” McLeod said, and asked them to sign in.
People could also buy takeout trays for $2. Those inside could go through the buffet line twice.
Solange Williams, 18, a student at Onondaga Community College, gave the blessing: “Heavenly Father, we thank you for this glorious day you have brought us together.”
Eleven servers, dressed in tuxedo T-shirts, dished out turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, baked macaroni and cheese, yams, corn, green beans, rolls and cranberry sauce.
Brianne Powell, 13, handling green beans, debated with Nia Levy, 13, who said her corn dish was “much healthier.” They polled people passing through for their opinions.
Haili Quinn, 14, and Abbi Sweeney, 14, at Auburn High School, waited on tables.
A Teen Scene Thanksgiving Basket giveaway featured two large food baskets raffled free with tickets given to guests being seated.
Sophomore Willie Oliver, an Auburn High School football tackle, doled out the sweets, last on the menu but first to disappear. Decorated cupcakes and sugar cookies were prepared by Auburn High's Teen Scene Cooking Club.
Lucas Bishop, a Moravia eighth grader, served punch prepared by children in the Moravia program. Pilgrim and turkey napkin and fork holders designed by six- to eight-year-olds in the program perked up the tables.
‘The food's good,” guest Jessica Armstrong, who brought her little boy, Evan, 17 months, said. Her mother, Dawn Taro, also liked the raffle surprise and socializing.
Shamika Morris, of Auburn, brought six of her seven children and two cousins. The Morris children -- Sammy, 4, Shahmaine, 6, Kashquan,1, Davon, 9, Dajour, 10, and Robert, 6 -- and their cousins, Zynita Dudley, 7, and Ellis, 9, all liked the food, especially cake.
A senior table of women, 55 to 88, who meet at BTW on Wednesdays for lunch and cards also enjoyed the meal: Barbara Broome, Gertrude Richards, June Freeman, Lois Haywood, Jeannette Smith, Lillie Harris, and Ann McLeod.
“It's a real good showing of everybody's taking some role,” Wright-Williams said. “Good food, good friends and good fun.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Monique Wright-Williams, executive director, said dinner has been served for at least five years. Cook Bessie Williams, assisted by Naomi Hopson, put on a spread of turkey and fixings. Turkey ran out just after 7 p.m., but plenty of extras remained. The Salvation Army donated turkeys while the rest were purchased.
“We continue to serve right up until we have no food left,” Wright-Williams said.
Greeters Joe Salce,16, and Danielle Schmidt, 18, of Moravia High School showed people to tables. It was their first time at the event.
“I wanna eat,” Ethan Reilley, 8, said when he came in with his mom, Leigh, and little sister Kaiya, 5.
Alicia McLeod manned the sign-in table as two teenagers came but didn't have any money. Dinner was $2 for those 13 and older, $1 for children 5 to 12, and free for seniors and children 4 and younger.
“I'm not going to turn people away,” McLeod said, and asked them to sign in.
People could also buy takeout trays for $2. Those inside could go through the buffet line twice.
Solange Williams, 18, a student at Onondaga Community College, gave the blessing: “Heavenly Father, we thank you for this glorious day you have brought us together.”
Eleven servers, dressed in tuxedo T-shirts, dished out turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, baked macaroni and cheese, yams, corn, green beans, rolls and cranberry sauce.
Brianne Powell, 13, handling green beans, debated with Nia Levy, 13, who said her corn dish was “much healthier.” They polled people passing through for their opinions.
Haili Quinn, 14, and Abbi Sweeney, 14, at Auburn High School, waited on tables.
A Teen Scene Thanksgiving Basket giveaway featured two large food baskets raffled free with tickets given to guests being seated.
Sophomore Willie Oliver, an Auburn High School football tackle, doled out the sweets, last on the menu but first to disappear. Decorated cupcakes and sugar cookies were prepared by Auburn High's Teen Scene Cooking Club.
Lucas Bishop, a Moravia eighth grader, served punch prepared by children in the Moravia program. Pilgrim and turkey napkin and fork holders designed by six- to eight-year-olds in the program perked up the tables.
‘The food's good,” guest Jessica Armstrong, who brought her little boy, Evan, 17 months, said. Her mother, Dawn Taro, also liked the raffle surprise and socializing.
Shamika Morris, of Auburn, brought six of her seven children and two cousins. The Morris children -- Sammy, 4, Shahmaine, 6, Kashquan,1, Davon, 9, Dajour, 10, and Robert, 6 -- and their cousins, Zynita Dudley, 7, and Ellis, 9, all liked the food, especially cake.
A senior table of women, 55 to 88, who meet at BTW on Wednesdays for lunch and cards also enjoyed the meal: Barbara Broome, Gertrude Richards, June Freeman, Lois Haywood, Jeannette Smith, Lillie Harris, and Ann McLeod.
“It's a real good showing of everybody's taking some role,” Wright-Williams said. “Good food, good friends and good fun.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.