The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center at Bella Vida and the SCV/Castaic Lions Club hosted their annual Thanksgiving feast with over 700 meals being served at the center and through their “Meals on Wheels” program on Thursday morning.
The day had all guests enjoying their turkey dinners, pumpkin and apple pies, the conversations and the camaraderie.
Each meal included turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, salad, bread rolls, and pumpkin and apple pies as well.
Kevin MacDonald, CEO of the SCV Senior Center, said hosting this feast made him enjoy the holiday more than before.
“And this turned me to really realize what Thanksgiving’s all about when I go into this ballroom, or I help with Meals on Wheels. It’s a brand new Thanksgiving experience for me. I think it’s wonderful,” MacDonald said.
Dave Chittum, president of the Lions Club, echoed MacDonald’s sentiment by saying that is what Thanksgiving is all about – giving back and being together.
“It’s our ability to say thanks, especially to these seniors, for all that they’ve done. And I look forward to it,” Chittum said. “Our entire club looks forward to it every single year, and that’s why we’re getting more and more volunteers. I mean, they hear about this, and everybody wants to be a part of it.”
MacDonald added that seeing all the smiles, the joy and that the seniors feel worthy is why he enjoys putting on the feast for them.
He added that it highlights what Bella Vida means and what it does for the seniors.
“They’re appreciated. And they are special, and we’re going to keep making them feel special. You know, this place is called Bella Vida, which means beautiful life, and today’s one day we really bring a beautiful time for them,” MacDonald said.
MacDonald said that he is thankful for the community of Santa Clarita.
Chittum said he was thankful to all the people at the feast and anyone who wants to uplift the seniors in the community.
Bonnie Teaford, board president of the senior center, decided to join the festivities because it was a way to give back.
“I’m so grateful for all the volunteers that are here, and it’s so wonderful to see the seniors get together and enjoy a beautiful meal,” Teaford said.
During the feast, Teaford was helping pass out meals to the guests with a huge smile on her face.
Teaford said that being together with loved ones is the most important part of Thanksgiving.
“Being able to say thanks in a very physical and meaningful way makes it a really special day. We have a lot of holidays where you kind of go, ‘Why are we doing this?’ And to have one holiday to say thank you for all that we have. I think what this means to me,” Teaford said.
Teaford added that the holiday fills her heart because of the community that gathered at the feast.
“It makes me so happy. So, when people say, ‘Happy Thanksgiving,’ this is what the happy part is for me,” Teaford said about the crowd.
She said she was thankful for her family, her friends and living in the United States.
“Well, my family. First of all, I’ve got a big family, and I love all of them, and we’re all far apart,” Teaford said. “But, yeah, I’m thankful for that. I’m thankful for living in this country. Even as divisive and crazy as it sometimes seems, I am very thankful for America. And this holiday celebrates that.”
Gina MacDonald, who made the joke that she was not related to Kevin, came because it was a way to see her brother, Gerard Gillespie, for the holiday and because of her friend, Ronald Moroso, who had just finished delivering Meals on Wheels.
“He (Ronald) does Meals on Wheels, and then he volunteered when they asked him to do the delivery today,” Gina said. “And so, he was doing that because of that and because of the fact my brother was coming up and can only be here for a short period of time because of the Metrolink schedules. This was going to be the best way for us to know that we would have a Thanksgiving meal.”
She said she has been coming for the last five years since she retired.
Gina said she was thankful for a lot this year too.
“I’m thankful for my family. I’m thankful for my health. I’m thankful for being able to retire. Yeah. I’m thankful for being able to put food on my table. I’m thankful for being able to pay my bills. I can keep on going,” Gina said.
Beatriz Lizaola, a guest at the event, wanted to come spend time with her friends and enjoy the morning.
“Because I want to enjoy me with my friends and eat this good dinner. This is why I came early. Because in the afternoon, we’ll meet in our home with all my family and I want today, meet here with my friends,” Lizaola said.
Lizaola said the thing she was most thankful for was being happy and healthy.
