Hundreds served at CCCSO dinner

HUNTINGTON -- Whether by foot, car, bus or motorized scooter, hundreds of seniors poured into the Phil Cline Family YMCA on Friday for the annual Thanksgiving dinner by Cabell County Community Services Organization.

Lunch was served at noon, but the gymnasium-turned-cafeteria was already filling up as early as 10 a.m.

"They always get here early. They look forward to this," said Terry H. Cunningham, CCCSO interim director. "We've done this dinner for a long time, and it's a nice, fun way to honor our seniors."

The luncheon, which feeds more than 300 people age 60 and older as well as CCCSO volunteers, is a traditional Thanksgiving meal complete with more than 300 servings of turkey, sweet potato souffle, mashed potatoes and gravy, and cranberry sauce. The meal is finished with nearly 350 slices of pumpkin pie from almost 60 pies.

Friday's function is one of several presented by CCCSO throughout the year, including a summer picnic and Christmas event. Friday's luncheon featured entertainment, door prizes and a sing-along.

CCCSO was incorporated to plan and operate social and economic programs beneficial to the needs of the elderly, low-income and handicapped residents of the Tri-State.

"For some reasons, this may be their only Thanksgiving, and we want to make it special for them," Cunningham said.