Nicole Cavalino, Nederland. Pumpkin pie and stuffing have been my responsibilities to prepare on Thanksgiving since I can remember. As a child and into my twenties, my Thanksgiving memories began with the early morning excitement of the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade blaring from my grandmother’s kitchen dial radio. With coffee percolating on the stove, my grandmother and I would listen to the announcers describe the scene as we began preparing the turkey, gravy and sauce. As we cubed potatoes, crushed tomatoes and lathered the turkey in spices, my grandmother would tell me stories about when she was young. Many of her stories were of struggle and gratitude of growing up in New York City in the 1930s. Other memories of my dad as a child and stories of our big Sicilian family celebrations is when she would highlight how simply being together would provide joy and comfort equal to a full belly after a delicious meal. 

We each have our own traditions when it comes to celebrating the holidays. As a mountain community, we have celebrated Thanksgiving together at the Nederland Community Center for generations. On that anticipated afternoon in late November, decorations would fill the Nederland Community Center halls and the smells of nearly 30 roasted turkey, pounds of mashed potatoes and trays of stuffing would lead guests to a Thanksgiving feast. Rows of tables full of hundreds of neighbors and friends in thanks would fill the gymnasium.  

Prepared in gratitude for the prosperity of our community the event would host mountain folks of all ages and was mainly staffed by community volunteers. As a community we would come together annually, to share a meal and memories and to give thanks for all that the year had provided us. Sadly, like most all gatherings in 2020 the Nederland Community Center Thanksgiving Dinner is cancelled, due to the risk of creating a significant Covid spread by hosting a congregate holiday meal. 

Nederland Area Seniors is continuously adapting to our current restrictions on gatherings, but also understands the need for tradition. In the spring of 2020, Nederland Area Seniors announced that all senior congregate meals had been cancelled due to the risk of Covid-19 to older adults. With support from local organizations and private donations, Nederland Area Seniors quickly adapted its congregate nutrition program into a Covid response meal delivery program. Nederland Area Seniors has since delivered 4,500 meals to over 100 seniors in the Peak to Peak communities between Jamestown and Black Hawk. 

With our meal delivery program up and running, Nederland Area Seniors is happy to announce we will still be making Thanksgiving Dinner for our seniors. In support of the Boulder County’s Covid-19 Level 3: high risk status suggesting vulnerable populations to stay-home to stay-safe, mountain region seniors choosing to stay-home and stay-safe can receive a homemade Thanksgiving meal delivered to your home.

Are you 60 or older & living in the Peak-to-Peak region? Get Thanksgiving delivered 

Even though we can’t gather, we can still enjoy Thanksgiving dinner thanks to the volunteer drivers who will be delivering homemade Thanksgiving dinners with all the fixings to seniors living in the mountain region between Jamestown and Black Hawk.

Nederland Area Seniors is serving a Thanksgiving meal to all meal delivery recipients including roasted turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving dinner meals will be delivered with weekly meals on Monday, November 23 and Wednesday, November 25. NO deliveries on Friday, November 27. If you are 60 years or older and are interested in receiving a Thanksgiving dinner delivered to you, call us 303-258-0799. 

Holiday Mountain Market Festivities

As we have made adjustments to our Thanksgiving plans for the safety of our community, we have also shifted the Holiday Mountain Market operations this year. The market and auction are going online beginning Black Friday and continuing through the following Sunday (November 27 - December 6), we will be selling all the goods from our vendors and hosting the silent auction that you know and love. We are hosting distanced holiday happenings around the town of Nederland Saturday and Sunday December 12 and 13, including a Santa drive-through, town-wide distanced scavenger hunt, holiday photo booths, and contactless pickup of goods. For more info, go to http://MountainPeakLife.org/events/holiday-mountain-market/. If you’d like to get involved, email HolidayMountainMarket@gmail.com.

For more information contact: Nicole Cavalino, Director via phone: 303-258-0799 or email: MounatinPeakLife.Nicole@gmail.com. 

Nederland Area Seniors is a nonprofit 501©3 organization.  Donations are tax deductible as charitable contributions. Tax ID# 84-1363334. Support mountain community senior programs, Donate on 12/8/20 Colorado Gives Day or online with Paypal Credit Card:  www.mountainpeaklife.org.

(Originally published in the November 12, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)