Annual Holiday Feast Helps Seniors Feel Included


Annual Holiday Feast Helps Seniors Feel Included Thanksgiving Meal is Shared Among Friends and Familiar Faces

By Lisette Gushiniere

Thanks to Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly, Chicago Chapter, seniors don't have to be alone on the holidays. Each year, the organization's members partake in a special holiday feast complete with all of the trimmings.

“It can be hard to be alone, but celebrating Thanksgiving without friends or family somehow feels worse,” said Simone Mitchell-Peterson, chief executive officer of Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, Chicago Chapter. “That’s why Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly hosts our Thanksgiving parties on Thanksgiving Day–so our elders won’t spend the holiday alone,” she added in a press release.

The goal is to ensure seniors 70 years and older are surrounded by love and support during the holiday season, a time of the year when seniors may feel isolated and lonely, said Shayna Courtney, a writer at the organization. “We provide all of our programs, services, events and activities completely free of cost to our members,” said Courtney.

“We also deliver meals with all the trimmings and flowers to homebound seniors around the city on Thanksgiving Day,” she continued. “One attribute that makes our organization so unique is that we celebrate Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day,” she said.

Turkey, complete with all of the trimmings including stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, rolls, appetizers, desserts and sparkling cider, are all on the menu for the feast.

Every year, Courtney said, Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, Chicago Chapter invites more than 500 elders to three parties on Thanksgiving Day on Chicago's North, South, and West Sides. The organization has been hosting the Thanksgiving event for 57 years and it wouldn't be the same without the help of volunteers and donors, she added.

“We are fortunate that many of our donors continue to give generously over time but, of course, amounts raised vary year to year,” Courtney stated.

“Donors, particularly younger donors, give in different ways today than they have in the past, so we offer a lot of options for those looking to give to the elders we serve,” she said.

“Donors can give through the mail, online at our secure donation portal (www.littlebrotherschicago.org), by phone, set up an automatic monthly gift, or support our efforts in other ways,” she stated.

“Donors can also make cash gifts, credit card gifts, or stock gifts,” Courtney continued.

“We also work with other groups like Amazon Smile. This year, we will offer (for the fourth year in a row) a crowd-funding opportunity on GivingTuesday on November 28,” she said. “And, of course, the minute Thanksgiving is over, we begin working toward our Christmas Day celebrations one month later!”

Courtney said the organization offers a host of other programs and activities year around in addition to the the holiday parties. From home visits, to outings, to over-night getaways for seniors and other programs, the activities give members a chance to socialize and be around familiar faces.

According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 18 percent of seniors live alone, while 43 percent report feeling lonely on a regular basis. Researchers of the study also learned that people 60-years-old and older who reported feeling lonely saw a 45 percent increase in their risk for death. Isolated elders also had a 59 percent greater risk of mental and physical decline than their more social counterparts.

Mitchell-Peterson emphasizes that Thanksgiving at Little Brothers isn’t just about the food, it’s about friendship. “Our mission is to alleviate isolation and loneliness among the elderly,” she said in a press release. “So on Thanksgiving, we don’t just serve dinner—we create an experience of celebration and friendship,” Mitchell-Peterson stated.

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