Over 60 members of the community, nearly all of them seniors from the North End and West End neighborhoods, came to the center at 1 Michelangelo Street in the North End for a feast of chicken with all the trimmings, topped off by a typical Italian panettone and coffee. Each senior received a holiday gift that included toiletries, cooking oil, food staples, and/or a supermarket gift card.
The center thanks Robin Sidell of North Street Grille for holding a community night at her restaurant to provide a generous check to purchase holiday gift cards. The drop-in center was cozy, warm, and festive, and the Christmas tree glittered in the corner, snowed in by cheerful presents.
Special guests included ABCD North End/West End NSC Advisory Board Chair Andrés Molina and volunteer David Roderick, who assisted with serving the meal, clean up, and visiting with seniors. NE/WE NSC Advisory Board Member Victor Brogna delighted the crowd with his trumpet playing. Luis Ottonelli, Program Monitor of the Age Strong Commission, made the rounds to visit with constituents. The team at Century Bank, including Assistant Manager, Joseph Galvao, distributed bags as party favors. Karen Halloran, Marketing Director for Marquis Health Services, added some snowy white scarves to the holiday bags. They will keep clients toasty warm as the winter has arrived with a sharp bite to the air!