Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 11/13/2023
HOLYOKE — The annual Free Thanksgiving Day Luncheon established through Community Roots Neighborhood Services, Inc.’s Veteran’s Lunch Program, is returning on Nov. 23.
The luncheon is open to veterans and their immediate adult family member or caretaker and will be hosted at 485 Appleton St. in Holyoke. Veterans are welcomed to come enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings in the company of fellow veterans. Interested parties must call 413-532-5060 to reserve a seat as space is limited.
Community Roots Neighborhood Services, Inc. created the free weekly meal program for veterans and their immediate adult family member in 2016 to create a weekly program that centers around a communal table for vets. The nonprofit’s mission is to offer access to food, services and companionship for all vets.
Executive Director of Community Roots Neighborhood Services Gina Nelson explained a regular Thursday for the lunch program sees around 75 people come by, which leads to great opportunities for veterans to have conversations and connect with one another while sharing a meal.
“The main part of what we do here is not the meal, the meal is a jump off point,” Nelson explained.
She added from the meal, veterans are able to come together, sit around a table and socialize and create relationships among the community. The meal setting provides for great conversations Nelson said, and also new bonds and learning lessons about the resources available for veterans.
Nelson shared her own experience growing up with a father who served and eventually serving herself and said that often veterans are easily susceptible to feelings of loneliness and isolation when dealing with their traumas as a veteran. A program like the community lunches helps create a community for them to have that also features resources to help them when needed.
As a young child worried for her father while he was serving overseas, nightly dinners with her mother became a sort of therapy for Nelson as conversations with her mom about their feelings and everyday life helped her get through a challenging time as a child.
Later in life when looking to give back to other veterans like herself, she was part of the Community Roots group being established and has worked to create a safe place for veterans in the community to have community, share meals with others and be able to have access to veteran services.
“I realized I was recreating my mom’s table,” Nelson said.
Nelson added on Thanksgiving Day they try and create as welcoming of a holiday setting as possible including great food and a TV for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as Thanksgiving football. The day within the community only grows the bond between Holyoke’s veterans and efforts within the city to look out for them.
She added they are always welcoming volunteers, especially for the holiday season. For those interested in volunteering or learning more about Community Roots and the weekly lunch program, email ginanelson5@gmail.com
Donations are also accepted and can be sent to Community Roots Neighborhood Services, Inc., 485 Appleton Street, Holyoke, MA. 01040.