They served up turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes and a heaping side of gratitude Monday, Nov. 22, when the Dartmouth Senior Center hosted an early Thanksgiving. 

“I’m grateful for my two adult children and my two grandsons,’’ said Judy Mateus, one of the 50 or so seniors who enjoyed the meals. “I’m thankful to the Senior Center for putting on all the activities they do for us, these nice meals and get-togethers.’’

Gratitude for family and friends was top of mind for many of the seniors as they dug into their dinners.

“I’m grateful for my two daughters, my friends and my sisters and the senior center,’’ Janice Fineberg said.

Nancy Jordan said she was happy to be a retired teacher who considers the Senior Center “her second home.’’ 

“I paint with them, I exercise with them, I meditate with them,’’ she said. “I contribute to the food pantry.’’

The dinner was presented and served by Heart to Home Meals, a home delivery service. After the meal, a raffle was held and trivia questions were answered.

Heart to Home had offered to serve a meal to seniors as a way of reaching out to the community and introducing them to their services, said Shayla Lopez, who works for the company.  

The senior center suggested a Thanksgiving turkey meal, center program coordinator Nancy Miller said.

This provided a chance for seniors to gather and share an early holiday meal.

“I’m happy to be here,’’ Dolores Bernat said. “I like to be happy. I try to look at things like, Everything’s going to be okay.’’

Nancy Rice is grateful to have been welcomed warmly into Dartmouth after moving from Maine because of Covid, she said.

“I’m extremely grateful to have found the Town of Dartmouth as my soft landing,’’ she said. “It’s been an open and welcoming community. And it’s near the water, which was a requirement of mine, coming from Downeast Maine.’’

The little pleasures, she said, have helped make it worthwhile.

“I love the sunsets,’’ she said.