BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD, N.J. —— On Nov. 17, the spirit of Thanksgiving was in abundance at the Bergen Family Center in Englewood.
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For the center’s annual “Liz and Friends” event, Liz Corsini, vice president of the Bergen Family Center, invited nine of her friends to cook up a delicious holiday feast for the seniors in the Adult Day Care Program, which is directed by Holly Scipio.
The following day, an enthused crowd of 50 seniors, volunteers, staff and guests enjoyed the sumptuous meal.
In the large community room, tables were set with decorative table cloths displaying pumpkins and squares for tic-tac-toe games, which many people played while waiting for their meal. Each senior was also given a raffle ticket, and a drawing was held for prizes of scarves and gloves.
The star of the show, of course, was the fabulous food, and lots of it. On the menu was turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, string bean casserole, peas and onions, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, rice, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. For dessert, there was pumpkin pie, apple pie and sweet potato pie.
The food had been prepared at home by Corsini’s friends and then assembled in the BFC’s kitchen. The culinary participants were Monica Borg, Cathy Pierorazio, Kelly Spitzley, Kara Cooper, Dawn Diaz, Susan Del Rio, Jayanne Tedesco, Anna Merker and Maria Mulry.
A host of BFC volunteers and interns, attired in aprons, hair nets and gloves, joined Corsini in serving the residents and guests.
When all the plates filled with food were laid out on tables, a prayer was recited: “The food we are about to eat is from water and sun, compounded through the alchemy of many plants. Therefore the water and sun will become part of us. This food is also the fruit of the labor of many people. We are grateful for it. May it increase our love, our health and our joy. Amen.”
In between cheerful conversations, people filled up on the delicious fare and some even took home leftovers.
“Liz and Friends” is one of the many events that the BFC offers to its residents. Coming next is the annual Christmas Party on Dec. 22. It promises to be a fun-filled afternoon for the center’s children and seniors, and includes catered food, gifts and a visit from Santa.
Photo by Hillary Viders