Annual Christmas dinner serves up good food, cheer to more than 100 seniors

 Photo gallery is below the article

More than 100 senior citizens from Chester and the surrounding towns sat down to a festive and hot Christmas meal on Saturday, Dec. 14 in the Chester Andover Elementary School cafeteria. Tables were set with bright green and red tablecloths, bowls of cranberry sauce, baskets of rolls and gift-basket centerpieces.

The annual dinner, which began in the mid-1970s at the Congregational Church in Chester, featured “10 and a half turkeys,” said Pat Budnick, who helps organize the event with a large team of other volunteers. The “half-turkey” she added, was a breast. (Budnick sends thanks to all in this Letter to the editor.)

Local restaurants pitched in with the preparation, including Country Girl Diner, Heritage Deli, the Stone Hearth Inn. And among other donating businesses were Adams Funeral Homes, the Fullerton Inn, Black River Produce and Lisai’s Chester Market.

The CAES kitchen was humming with helpers including Jack Carroll and Nancy and Bill Lindsay, a Chester Select Board member, who helped plate platters of freshly carved turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables that were served to the tables by a cadre of folks. Home deliveries were made in the early afternoon.

Sharon Baker, owner of Country on the Common who also DJ’d, spun carols for the crowd and lead the group in song. And a get well and Merry Christmas card was available for signing for Brian Waldo, the event’s regular emcee who has been out with an injury.

— Cynthia Prairie

From left, Nancy Lindsay, Jack Carroll, Ken Barrett and Bill Lindsay are in the kitchen at CAES preparing the Saturday meal. Photos by Cynthia Prairie

Nancy Lindsay puts china on trays for serving.

The pie table was a big hit, thanks to the women from Andover who prepared the desserts.

Nancy Phillips carries two large bowls to a table.

Clockwise from left, George and Cheryl Cook, Norman Wright, Ruth Harrison, Ann Curran, Chris Curran, Marcia Clinton, Norm Harrison, Jack Cable and Beverly Cable enjoy their Christmas dinner and each other’s company.

From left, Pastor Daryl Martens and DJ Sharon Baker flank Pat Budnick as she speaks to diners.