When it came to counting their many blessings, the LIFE St. Francis community had an extra blessing to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

In the past, LIFE St. Francis, which offers senior citizens living in Mercer County and several towns in Burlington County, a safe alternative to nursing home placement, would hold its Thanksgiving event at a local fire hall in Trenton. Now with its brand new facility in Bordentown that’s complete with a commercial kitchen, the staff was excited to prepare and host a Thanksgiving feast for their participants in their brand new home.

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According to Christine M. Fares Walley, public relations director in St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, Thanksgiving meals that included turkey and all the trimmings, as well as savory desserts such as pumpkin and sweet potato pies, were prepared by the LIFE dietary staff and served over three days to a total of 250 LIFE participants by leadership, staff and volunteers of St. Francis Medical Center. The dinners were served Nov. 21, 22 and 23, with about 80 participants in attendance each day.

“Thanksgiving dinners has been a tradition for LIFE St. Francis since opening in 2009 and staff and participants look forward to the planning every year,” said Fares Walley. “This dinner is a special event for colleagues to host and share with participants. Colleagues enjoy serving the meal and interacting with participants.”

Along with the dinners, participants enjoyed the provided entertainment which included singing along with and dancing to music of various genres traditional songs as well as oldies, Gospel and patriotic.

For the LIFE staff, Fares Walley said the Thanksgiving event is meaningful because it “allows them to show the seniors how much they care.”

For the participants, Fares Walley shared that one had remarked on how comfortable she feels “celebrating Thanksgiving dinner with my LIFE St. Francis family.”