SOUTHWICK – The fourth annual Thanksgiving For All will take place at Moolicious Farm on Feeding Hills Road again this year.
The Deedy family, with help from the Magni family and a host of volunteers, will serve a free Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.
Most of the items are donated, including Tucker’s Restaurant’s squash, a local favorite.
Joseph Deedy said last year 15 turkeys were donated from throughout the community and he hopes to serve 15 turkeys again this Thanksgiving.
“We had all kinds of donations, from turkeys to butter,” Deedy said. “We’d be thrilled with the same.”
Last year the high school National Honor Society baked pies for the Southwick Our Community Pantry to give to families who ordered Thanksiving meals, and any leftover pies were served at Moolicious.
Deedy said any leftover food from Thanksgiving will also be distributed throughout the town.
“No food goes to waste,” he said.
The Deedy and Magni families have been sharing their Thanksgiving day with the community as a way of giving back.
“We grew up learning to give back and my kids are growing up and they help us,” Deedy said.
In fact, present and former Moolicious employees have traditionally volunteered to serve on Thanksgiving and family, friends, and fellow residents typically show up the day before to lend a hand.
“People just show up the night before to help prep,” said Deedy.
Thanksgiving For All is truly a dinner open to everyone. Deedy said it started as a way to provide a holiday meal for people in need of food, but has become more of an event for people who may not have a family to share the meal with them. Either way, the doors are open.
Seating is at noon and Deedy said if they need to add an additional time, they will.
‘We do ask people to make reservations,” he said. “They can call Moolicious at 413-568-1700.”
Thanksgiving For All is also providing Meals On Wheels that day. Deedy is working with the food pantry and Southwick Senior Center to identify people in need of a Thanksgiving meal.
“We have a group of volunteer pilgrims ready to deliver,” said Deedy.
Community support of the event has been overwhelming.
“I end up with 100 people who want to volunteer – everyone wants to do their part,” he said. “It’s amazing.”
