By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
A group of homeschooled youngsters literally and figuratively turned the tables on seniors who packed Atmore SAIL Center for a pre-Thanksgiving lunch on November 27. The visiting students, from Homeschooled Kids & Co. (HKC), made the senior citizens feel more like they were guests.
A baker’s dozen (13) students of varying ages served the holiday meal — turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, fancy green beans, rolls, cake (carrot, pound, coconut and red velvet), tea and water — to more than four dozen hungry participants.
The servers and table bussers ran back and forth to refill drink cups, bring desserts and such, then took the trash and leftovers away and wiped the tables clean when each senior was finished with his or her meal.
HKC Vice President Emily Purvis said the students had been looking for a community project and felt the meal service would be a good one.
“Our students wanted to give back to the community for Thanksgiving, and everybody agreed this would be a good way to do that,” Purvis said.
Hannah Barnes, president of the homeschool organization (which includes “about 120” students in grades K-12 from Escambia counties in Alabama and Florida), said the students, who mingled with the senior citizens while performing their tasks, are eager for more of the same.
“They loved doing it,” she said. “They’ve already asked if they can go back [to the SAIL Center] at Christmas.”
Barnes, Purvis, Tammy Pence and Sabrina Matheny chaperoned the visiting youngsters.
The residents seemed to love the interaction with and extra attention they received from the visitors.
“I remember some of these kids from when they were in kindergarten,” said Sarah Hayes, one of 52 seniors who enjoyed the special meal. “I thought it was very sweet of them.”