Good food... good fellowship.
Seniors in the South Central Kingsport community gathered on Saturday, December, 6, 2014, as they do every Christmas season to break bread around the holiday table, at the annual dinner held in their honor.
"Every year, the community comes together just to have a fellowship during the holidays," says Reverend Pastor Kenneth Calvert of the South Central Kingsport Community Development Corporation, one of the sponsors of the event. "Our seniors have already given so much to the community, and many of them cooked themselves out doing Thanksgiving. As we head towards Christmas, we want them to know that we love them."
"It's a great way for them to celebrate the season, together."
A special highlight of the dinner, was the service offered to the seniors by members of the community's New Vision Youth. Chicken, green beans. corn, rolls and tea were the menu's fare. The young people served the seniors their dinner plates and desserts.
"They bring the plates, they come back later and pick them up," Reverend Calvert noted, "and they cater to their needs. It's a good thing for our seniors to be treated like royalty every once in a while."
"They get to bridge the generation gap with some talented young folks, all members of the New VisionYouth," he says. "The youth put on an inspirational song and dance program and poetry. Later, the youth were in charge of drawing names for free gifts for the seniors
He also paid tribute to the popularity of the dinner, to the folks in charge of pulling it together.
"Johnnie Mae (Swagerty) and her helpers did a great job this year of organizing the event," says Reverend Calvert. "In prior years, Jeannie Hodges put it together and before that, other directors have carried on the tradition from year to year, and they've always made it one of the highlights of the season."
"It always run smooth, and it has been a great tradition for our community."
A SLIDE SHOW OF THE EVENT IS COMING SOON, RIGHT HERE!
