Ridgewood Hosts 10th Annual Giving Thanks Dinner for Seniors This Weekend

Ridgewood will hold its 10th Annual Giving Thanks Elder Dinner on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Old Paramus Reformed Church. Seniors across town will receive a free home-cooked Thanksgiving-style meal and live music.

The Village called the gathering a tradition that honors senior residents with an afternoon of food, fellowship and holiday cheer.

Sunday's event marks a decade.

"This event embodies the spirit of Ridgewood — neighbors coming together to care for one another," said Councilmember Siobhan Winograd, according to Patch.

Winograd served on the committee that started the event 10 years ago. The dinner has happened for 10 straight years, through thick and thin.

The event continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's been a tradition for 10 consecutive years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when we loaded boxes of meals into the trunks of cars and delivered them to people's homes," said Winograd to Patch.

The dinner requires advance registration through Community Pass. Those who missed the deadline or need more information can contact the Recreation Department at 201-670-5560.

Three groups make the event possible: the Parks & Recreation Department, HealthBarn Foundation, and Age Friendly Ridgewood.

Volunteers and organizations, including the Civic Youth Corps, also help with the dinner.

The church location gives space for seniors from across town to gather. Attendees will get a full Thanksgiving-style meal at no cost.

Live musical entertainment will accompany the meal service. The program runs for two hours on Sunday afternoon.

Registration information is available at https://register.capturepoint.com/ridgewood. The Parks & Recreation Department manages sign-ups.