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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula November 22, 2001 Photos and Text © 2001 Michele Anderson

Little Brothers serve Thanksgiving meals to seniors

COPPER CITY -- Senior citizens from Copper City, Allouez, Ahmeek, Mohawk and Fulton enjoyed one of many Thanksgiving dinners prepared and served on Thursday, Nov. 22, in several Copper Country locations by Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly. The Community Hall in Copper City was the scene of the traditional turkey dinner for north end residents.

Senior citizens from Keweenaw County and northern Houghton County enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with Little Brothers volunteers and staff on Thursday, Nov. 22, at the Copper City Community Hall.

 

"I had a lot of help from the volunteers," Cinelli said. 

Louise Siira of Little Betsy, said this is her 16th year volunteering for Little Brothers. Her service includes calling the recipients of the home-delivered meals to notify them at what time their dinners will arrive.

Several of the volunteers serving the meal in Copper City said this was their first experience helping with the Little Brothers dinner. Emilie Salo of Mohawk was one of these.

"This is the first time I've done it," Salo said. "It's fun."

Mark Cinelli, center, Little Brothers staff member and coordinator of the Copper City meal, scrapes stuffing from a pan in the Community Hall kitchen. Assisting are first-time volunteers Katie Sherman, left, of Hancock, and Emilie Salo of Mohawk.

First-time Little Brothers volunteer Katie Sherman of Hancock said she decided to offer her day off from two jobs -- at Gino's Restaurant in Hancock and at The Bluffs in Houghton, an assisted living facility where she works as a dining room attendant.

"I'm here on my day off," Sherman said with enthusiasm. "I wanted to help here -- which I will do every year."

Cindy Hyrkas of Laurium, who delivered meals last year, joined the kitchen volunteers this time while her husband, Gerald Hyrkas, and their two daughters -- Lynn, 14 and Elsa, 9 -- delivered meals. 

"That was fun," Lynn said, after returning to the Community Hall to help out some more.
 

First-time Little Brothers volunteer Katie Sherman of Hancock stirs the gravy she made, while volunteer Cindy Hyrkas of Laurium smiles in approval.

 

Randy Rantanen, left, of Covington, and Brandon Seguin of Iron River -- both first-time Little Brothers volunteers -- washed dishes for the Copper City meal, taking only a short break to eat. "It's a good thing to do," Rantanen said, "better than sitting around watching TV all day."

 

Little Brothers volunteer Tom Hruby, left, of Houghton sits down to eat with guests James Nowicki, second from left, and his brother Bill Nowicki, right, both of Mohawk. Also pictured is volunteer Randy Rantanen of Covington, enjoying the meal between rounds of dishwashing. Volunteers are asked to eat with seniors and share conversation with them.

 

Guests at the Thanksgiving dinner included, clockwise from left, Signe Salminen of Mohawk, Mary Kaifesh and Lillian Gow of Ahmeek, Peter Manzini of Calumet, Bill Jarvis of Kearsarge and Joe Peltier of Mohawk. Kaifesh, 89, and Gow, 94, said they were the oldest guests attending the Copper City dinner.

See Page 2 of this story for more photos.