Senior center offers friendship, holiday feast

Mary Chou-Thompson, marketing and public relations specialist for Interfaith Community Care in Surprise, submitted this information.

As one of the only senior centers in the Valley open for the Thanksgiving holiday, Interfaith Community Care's Chez Nous Center and Café, 14495 R.H. Johnson Blvd., Sun City West, will host its fourth annual Thanksgiving celebration and meal on Nov. 27 at noon. The celebration is for seniors and other area community members who may otherwise spend the holiday alone.

Thanks to a $2,000 grant provided by the Community Fund of Sun City West, turkey, mashed potatoes and all of the other traditional trimmings will be served to more than 100 patrons and 75 take-home meals will be available for Sun City West community members. The Community Fund of Sun City West is celebrating 26 years of helping residents in need.

"There's a greater purpose to our Thanksgiving meal that goes well beyond providing nourishment," says Michelle Dionisio, president and chief executive of the organization. "We'll fulfill a very basic human need around the holidays - companionship - for our widowed community members and others who don't have family nearby."

Part-time residents often sacrifice being close to family for the more moderate temperatures of the Sun Cities area. Isolation from family and friends, particularly around the holidays, can cause loneliness and even depression among older adults.

"There's a tremendous need throughout the West Valley community for services like those that Interfaith offers to help our elderly neighbors cope with the multitude of issues they face," Dionisio said.

"We provide them with the support they need, and in the case of our Thanksgiving meal, for that time we step in and act as family, sharing food, friendship and stories of thanks."

Info: 623-584-4999 or www.interfaithcommunitycare.org.