For the seventh consecutive year, Columbus Mayor Robert Smith hopes to brighten the holidays for an often overlooked segment of the community — its senior citizens.
Thursday, Smith will open the doors of the Trotter Convention Center to Lowndes County residents age 55 and over for his annual Thanksgiving luncheon.
“Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority Programs Director Greg Lewis and I started talking about something we could do to honor the senior citizens in our area,” Smith said. “We wanted to show our seniors how much we appreciate them, so we decided to honor them with a luncheon the week before Thanksgiving. The luncheon means a lot to them. It’s a time for them to come together and fellowship. This is for all of the seniors in the area, not just those who live in Columbus.”
According to Smith, 857 people participated in the event in 2011. Food for the event is bought through private contributions and donations from local businesses.
“The seniors really enjoy this,” Smith said. “It means a lot to me when they tell me how much they enjoy it. This is for anyone over 55 years of age, but we won’t turn anyone away. We serve the Mayor’s Youth Council, volunteers and anyone that shows up.”
Entertainment for the luncheon will be provided by the Columbus Middle School Girls Choir. The event will last from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
For more information, call the Mayor’s office at 662-328-7021.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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