They come from senior centers, nursing homes, family homes – all in search of a good meal and an afternoon of companionship.
Over 600 seniors will be dropped off, bused in or somehow transported to the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas for a Thanksgiving meal. Without this event, many would not get to celebrate the holiday.
This is the 32nd year the Rotary Club of Calabasas has served local seniors a complete Thanksgiving dinner. Almost 200 Rotarians, plus their friends and families, serve the meal that is cooked by the Sagebrush staff, who also donate their time for the seniors in the community.
As in years past, Rotary must rely on the generosity of local citizens and businesses for food, services and funds in order to provide a full and festive holiday meal.
What is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving? The turkey. What’s in short supply this year? Turkeys.
Rotarian Bette Hall said that in previous years, Valley-based Eastern Poultry has generously donated all the turkeys needed for this special dinner. This year with the shortage they were unable to do so.
So the Rotary Club has instituted a “Turkey Trot” – asking the local community to donate either a frozen turkey or funds to buy one. All donors will be listed in a thank-you ad in the Valley News Group papers after Thanksgiving.
“We need 80 turkeys this year to feed that many seniors,” said Hall. “Right now we are scrambling to reach that number, so any and all donations help.”
Even after a two-year hiatus due to COVID, a lot of the same seniors are planning to attend this year. “For many, this is the highlight of the season,” explained Hall. “So many of those that show up are alone on holidays. Here they are well fed, entertained and appreciated.”
Those wishing to donate turkeys can drop them directly to the Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road. To donate funds, checks are payable to the Rotary Club of Calabasas Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 8232, Calabasas, California 91372 or call Bette Hall at (805) 320-4656.
