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November 16, 2007

Senior citizens treated to entertainment and food

By Linda Greer

news@joplinglobe.com

NEOSHO, Mo. — Six weeks in the planning, the eighth annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Banquet on Friday went as smoothly as organizers hoped.

“Of all the events we do in a year, this is my favorite,” said Bekah Peters as she walked through the packed Neosho Middle School gymnasium taking pictures for the school district’s Web page.

Peters said one of the most moving parts of the program for her is to watch the veterans in the audience stand, many with walkers and wheelchairs, as the Neosho High School Choraleers sing the national anthem.

“It gives me goose bumps,” Peters said. “We don’t see that kind of patriotism much any more.”

Peters, a human resources manager for the R-5 School District, was among more than 300 district employees, students and volunteers who helped in some way with the banquet that fed 950 area senior citizens this year.

Banquet co-organizer Crystal Heiskell said committee members begin planning for the event around Oct. 1.

Invitations are sent, business sponsors are sought and food suppliers are contacted, she said.

As soon as the event is over, organizers meet again to discuss what they might have done better.

“We’ve learned something every year to make an improvement,” Heiskell said.

Food, door prizes, gift bags, printed material and decorations are donated by area businesses, said Superintendent Richard Page.

The traditional turkey dinner was prepared throughout the district’s school cafeterias and served by the high-school students. Some food preparations were started the night before the banquet, while the bulk of the meal was begun at 7:30 a.m. Friday.

When the last meal was brought to the table, Page said, “All the food was served in 20 minutes. What an accomplishment.”

While the diners ate, they were treated to musical performances by the high-school jazz band, middle-school choir, Benton Elementary fourth-grade choir and the high-school Sugar and Spice dance group.

Heiskell said that every year after the program, banquet guests tell her how much they enjoyed being with the kids. The students also learn to appreciate seniors, she said.

“It’s a really heartwarming experience,” Heiskell said.

Heiskell is amazed at the generosity of area business owners and workers.

“We have an awesome group of people in Neosho,” Heiskell said.

Kelli Spain, a Neosho High School junior and culinary arts student, said she enjoys working at the banquet because the seniors genuinely appreciate the event.

“They are so happy afterwards,” Spain said.

Heather Schmidt, a senior culinary arts student, said that working on the event has helped teach her respect and responsibility.

Page said the district wants “to teach our children the right thing to do.” By concentrating on personal conduct and character quality, the community “will see results for years to come,” Page said.



Annual dinner

The annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Banquet in Neosho is open to area seniors age 60 and older at no cost. Neosho R-5 School District assistant finance director Charles Brazeale said organizers are not strict about the age requirement.

“If they think they qualify, we feed them,” Brazeale said.



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