By Tyler Marko
The help the seniors of the New Horizons Counseling Center jump into the holiday season, the Valley Stream-based agency provided their clients a proper Thanksgiving meal, a holiday buffet was held at the closed St. Joseph’s School building in Hewlett on Nov. 19.
There were 13 tables set up throughout the school’s former gymnasium and they were nearly filled with members of New Horizon’s senior program, the Alzheimer’s program and their families and caretakers when the food was served.
Kathy Schmitt, the director of the counseling center’s senior programs, was putting together the final touches, with help from the Valley Stream Lions Club. “All of us get together and be thankful for each other,” she said. “We’re really a family here all, all of our members, staff and everybody, we just truly, truly love each other.”
She noted the importance of having events like these at this time of year, as some members don’t get to see their families during the holiday season. “Some of our other members who don’t have family,” Schmitt said. “It’s a nice time for them to be able to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with their extended family, which is us.”
Lions Club members were helped prepare and serves the meals. Club President, Catrina Dugger, said this is one of their favorite events. “Our mandate is that we help serve the community,” she said. “We find a lot of joy in doing this particular event.”
Some seniors are lucky than others as a more than a few family members did attend the pre-holiday lunch. “I’m here to celebrate Thanksgiving with my dad and family,” Richie Scheffner said. “You can’t find a better program than this [for an elderly family member.]”
After the meal, attendees could dance to music they likely grew up listening to. New Horizons also distributed cardigan sweaters with the center’s logo to the seniors.
New Horizons Counseling Center has nine outpatient clinics, including one in Valley Stream and two in Far Rockaway. There are a range of programs and services to help people with chronic medical conditions often complicated by substance use and mental health disorders.
For more information, go to nhcc.us.
Source: http://liherald.com/stories/new-horizons-counseling-center-marks-thanksgiving-with-seniors,109645
