A crowded Grange Hall in Shartlesville told the tale of seniors of Upper Bern Township taking advantage of a Shartlesville Lions Club tradition: providing a free Thanksgiving dinner.
With decorations in place, and typical Thanksgiving smells wafting through the air, guests began arriving almost an hour before the announced time for dinner.
Old friends greeted former school chums, and new friends were made to feel welcome, as well, as cooks and decorators put on the finishing touches for the meal of turkey and ham, mixed vegetables, sweet potatoes and stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce, as well as dessert and various beverages.
Some took time to look at the gift display, hoping to be the recipient. Others waited for the opening prayer and directions as to how the tables would be ushered to the serving area.
Shartlesville Lions Club president Bob Argot gave the prayer and then asked those folks who would need assistance to go to the serving tables first, getting help from either family or friends and even Lion volunteers.
Once the crowd of more than 150 seniors and some friends had eaten, those prizes donated by business and private members of the community were awarded one by one and delivered to the winners by Lion members.
As the dinner guests left, compliments were heard in goodly numbers, whether for the food, the fellowship or the prizes.
