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Date: 11/9/2023
SOUTHWICK — This will be the 12th year the Southwick Civic Fund has kicked off the holiday season by providing turkey with all the trimmings for the town’s seniors, disabled residents, and shut-ins during its annual Thanksgiving for All.
“This is really about them,” said Joseph Deedy, the president of the Civic Fund, about the nonprofit’s annual effort to deliver a hot Thanksgiving meal to those who might otherwise go without.
But the Civic Fund couldn’t provide the free meals — between 250 and 300 will be prepared this year — without the donations of food, money and time from businesses and volunteers, Deedy said.
Deedy said when he organized the inaugural dinner 12 years ago, he was unsure if there was a need, but quickly found there was residents began showing up at Moolicious, his family’s business at 258 Feeding Hills Rd., where the Thanksgiving meal was served until pandemic restrictions forced the organization to switch gears and begin delivering the meals.
That was when he, and the volunteers who deliver the meals, realized how great the need was.
“You don’t really know what the need is until you get out there,” he said about visiting homes in the community to deliver the meals.
Despite having a dedicated group of volunteers and benefactors, Deedy said he still needs donations. He has already gotten a donation of 17 turkeys from Southwick Community Episcopal Church, but he needs several more. The Civic Fund could also use donations of stuffing, onions, celery, cranberry sauce, gravy, potatoes, butter, sour cream and chicken broth.
Deedy said several businesses have provided help for years, and that all of them have already reached out to him to let him know they will be helping again. One is Calabrese Farms, which provides fresh squash. That squash is then delivered to Tucker’s Restaurant where it is prepared.
He said Roma Restaurant donates all the bread, and the Granville Country Store donates butter, and the family of Tracy Mountain, who owns the store, prepares the stuffing.
And then there is Marie Daniels, whom Deedy called the “string bean queen” who prepares all the string bean casserole included in the meal.
“She’s not letting anybody else near the string beans,” he said, laughing.
Arrow Oil Inc., Deedy said, also provides a generous monetary donation each year.
He also wanted to recognize Cindy Sullivan, the town’s director of senior and recreational operations, as instrumental in making the event successful.
“They’ve been wonderful,” he said of Sullivan and the folks at the town’s Senior Center.
The best part of coordinating the Thanksgiving dinner, he said, is that he’s “never begging for help, it just happens.”
For those who need a meal on Thanksgiving, they can be picked up or delivered. Delivery is only available for Southwick residents. Deedy said people can call 413-569-1700 to add their name to the list to receive a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, or for general questions, or to get involved.
“It’s always a great time for everyone involved,” he said, and all are welcome.
For those interested in donating food or money, Deedy said either can be dropped off at Moolicious during its open hours, 3-5 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays, and noon to 8 p.m. on weekends. Cooking begins around noon the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov. 22, Deedy said.