WHITMAN – The tradition of looking after one’s neighbors in need – whether that need be social or financial – while handing that tradition along to the community’s youth has roots as old as time.
Whether those roots are based in religion or culture, they were clearly in practice in the region as Thanksgiving approached, only to ramp up considerably as Christmas and other December holidays such as Hanukkah and Kwanzaa draw near.
Kicking off the seasonal service events began on Saturday, Nov. 16 as the Cardinal Spellman Council No. 347 welcomed a record number of town and area senior citizens, who would otherwise be alone at the Thanksgiving holiday with a roast turkey dinner (or several of the birds), with mashed potatoes, dressing and gravy, cranberry sauce, winter squash, peas and pearl onions, dinner roll and a brownie sundae for dessert.
Members of the Whitman-Hanson football team helped the Knights and Whitman police serve the dinner, including cranberry juice cocktail and fruit cup, without spilling a drop.
The dinner is part of the K of C’s mission to do charitable works for the community as an expression of faith.
This was the 51st year that the Spellman Council has hosted the dinner, member Bob Hayes announced to the diners before the benediction was offered by Parochail Vicar, the Rev. Godfrey Musabe, of the Light of Christ Catholic Collaborative that serves St. Bridget in Abingon and Holy Ghost Church in Whitman.
Born in Uganda, he told the seniors he came to the United States to study at Boston College and now serves as chaplain of an Army National Guard unit when he is not serving his vocation.
“It begins with Thanksgiving,” Musabe said. “Everything is Thanksgiving, and as we come together, we thank God for the many blessings he has given us … for allowing us to be here. We thank God for this wonderful and beautiful country that he has given us. We thank God for the gift of one another.”
He also invited those attending the dinner to, in their own way and according to their own faith tradition, to pray for a moment of thanksgiving before the meal was served, asking a blessing on the volunteers who sacrificed their time to prepare and serve the meal, the gathering to enjoy it and the meal itself.
Six days later, the students of Conley Elementary School included their annual gifts to the community’s food pantry and animal shelter as part of their Thanksgiving basket assembly, now made part of their November monthly school morning meeting.
The children had recently been asked to each bring in a canned good or other food item for a Thanksgiving meal to provide a holiday dinner for 25 families in their community, as well as an abject lesson in how one person’s efforts can do so much.
The children were asked to turn to classmates on either side of them and say what they are thankful for this year.
The big moments came when Student Council President Riley Lusk announced how many baskets were being donated to the pantry.
“I want to start off by saying how amazing it is to see all that our school families have donated,” she said. “Just like we come together as a school to help each other, it’s important to help others in our community, too. Because of all of you, 25 families in our community will get to enjoy Thanksgiving dinners.”
She thanked the students and wished them a happy Thanksgiving.
St, Vincent DePaul Food Pantry President Richard Clark thanked the students on behalf of the pantry for their contributions.
“Everybody here has done great work,” he said. “All the help given the food pantry will be very good for all the families in Whitman that we need to help out because they have food insecurity. I appreciate all the things you guys have done. Keep up the good work!”
“I’m so proud of our school for the kindness we show to animals,” Council member Brody Gould said. “Every year, we ask the Conley community to contribute whatever the can for our Pennies for Paws collection.”
He announced this year, the students raised $450 for the animals being housed at the Whitman Animal Shelter.
Animal Control Officer Laura Howe thanked the students.
“You always make me cry,” she said. “But I’m just so proud of you all. You give me hope every year for the future of our world.”
She told the children that kindness is really all that matters in this world, and the way that Conley students always exemplify it every year, always move her to tears.
“Wow! It really does all begin with one can,” said one of the Council members before the Student Council brought in the baskets as the song, “When Fall Comes to New England,” played. “We are so lucky to live in a community where everyone helps each other.”