Invitations rolling in for city seniors NECI, VFW, high schools offer support after fire
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By SUSAN ALLEN Staff Writer - Published: December 20, 2009
MONTPELIER – There has been a giant wave of support for the Senior Activity Center and its members following a fire late Monday night that damaged a portion of the building at 58 Barre St. and forced the cancellation of the seniors' annual holiday luncheon.
"I'm just amazed at the outpouring," said Beverlee Pembroke Hill, assistant city manager and liaison to the center. "I just think that people are very appreciative of the seniors."
The New England Culinary Institute had planned to help with staffing the annual luncheon at the center Tuesday, the day after a fire that apparently started in the crafts room destroyed the center's kitchen and damaged much of the rear of the building.
"They were dismayed and shocked" to hear about the fire, said NECI spokeswoman Jennifer Livingston. About 100 seniors had been planning to attend the annual holiday event.
Livingston said students, faculty and chefs at NECI wanted to help. The school's annual holiday dinner was scheduled for Monday, Dec. 21, and it was decided that the seniors would be invited to join free of charge.
"We thought we could probably fit in a few extra," said Livingston, estimating that 70 or 80 might accept the invitation. She said the staff scrambled to order more food and change the menu to accommodate the additional guests.
"My philosophy is that there is always room at the table for one more. We are very happy to invite the senior citizens to our holiday party," said NECI President Fran Voigt in a release. "It is the right thing to do and there is no better time than the holidays to show our hospitality and warmth for our community's seniors."
The meal will be cooked by NECI's culinary students and will be served by members of the administration, including Voigt.
Hill said U-32 Middle and High School also reached out immediately after learning of the fire to offer its kitchen and cafeteria to the seniors for their holiday luncheon. School would be out of session, making that space available for preparing and serving a meal for such a large gathering, Hill said.
She said that was appreciated because a portion of the senior center's membership comes from surrounding communities, including Middlesex, East Montpelier and Berlin – communities whose children attend U-32.
"We did not accept that offer because of the fact we're having the one (luncheon) on Monday," Hill said. "But again, the fact that the school was going to be closed and available was wonderful."
The Veterans of Foreign Wars also offered to host the senior's holiday luncheon. When Hill told them NECI had already filled that need, the VFW offered a luncheon sometime around or after New Year's.
Montpelier High School also stepped forward. Because the senior center's weekly Thursday luncheon won't be held due to the fire, MHS has invited seniors to eat at the school with students for a small fee every Thursday when school resumes after the holiday vacation. Details are still being worked out.
Hill said school officials not only wanted to help the seniors with their weekly social event, but saw this as a good way to bring generations together.
She said the organizations are rallying around the seniors because they understand the loss the members have suffered from the fire.
"They realize how important this piece is to them, not just socially or emotionally, but physically, because it gives them a chance to stay active," she said.
Livingston agreed that people support the seniors.
"We know how hard it is to be a senior during the holidays," she said. "It was in the best holiday spirit to do something to help them out."
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