By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— For the past 20 years, the Pelham Senior Center has held a Thanksgiving luncheon for the senior residents in the city. This year’s annual event will be held Nov. 19 at 10:30 a.m.

Barbara Roberts, director of the Senior Center and the public library, said the event will also be a chance for the seniors to hear from Pelham Mayor Gary Waters and the City Council members for an update on the city.

The luncheon will feature traditional Thanksgiving dishes, such as turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole and more. This year’s meal will be provided by Bellini’s catering.

“Thanksgiving as a national holiday,” Roberts said. “I would wager this is a group of people that the whole city needs to be grateful (to).”

Roberts said these individuals are ones that endured through World War II and the Great Depression. They also helped build the city of Pelham, according to Roberts.

This is the time of year Roberts said she is able to throw events like this to show support for the seniors in the city. She also said the event serves as a way for the seniors to show support for elected officials in Pelham.

Roberts said she expects about 75 seniors at the event, as they have usually had between 70 to 80 people. The Senior Center’s staff runs the whole event, and everyone seems to have a good time, according to Roberts.

“(The seniors enjoy it,) especially at the holidays, you have to remember that a lot of them have lost spouses some don’t have children or some have children and grandchildren that live in other states,” Roberts said. “This is a big deal for them.”

Seniors can sign up for the event at the Pelham Senior Center. Roberts said the sheet will be available until the end of the day Nov. 12, but she expects a few extra attendees.