Holiday dinner for seniors citizens in 2009 concluded with some 100 senior citizens honored by the community dinner, up from 90 the year before. Senior Center volunteers stent invitations to Island citizens who might welcome dinner with friends they haven’t seen for awhile.

The dinner is sponsored annually by Vashon Kiwanis at Camp Burton for senior citizens to reinforce and honor their connection to the community.

Vashon High School Key Club and McMurray School Builders Club have been partners for years. They served seniors. Kiwanis members and wives prepare food and decorations and arange other details.

New director of the Senior Center, Willow Eaton, created all the camera ready copy for invitations to the dinner and the return RSVP cards so proper food can be prepared, and Center volunteers addressed and stuffed Kiwanis envelopes.

Additionally, Senior Center volunteers and staff are reviewed the Kiwanis addressee list for people who moved or are no longer on the Island. The Food Bank is offering informational flyers to older patrons.

The traditional turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and green beans is free. Food and decorations are paid for by proceeds from the Kiwanis’ Strawberry Festival Pancake Breakfast and Community Calendar sales.

"The dinner is a community event involving all ages,” Dinner Chairman Keith Putnam explained. “Senior citizens can refresh their connection to the community, catch up with one another, and enjoy each others’ company,” Putnam said.

The punch bowl is uusually ready at noon. Dinner is served at 1 p.m.

Travel to and from the dinner is to be provided for those housebound, but able to walk or be pushed on their wheelchair into the dining hall, Quenneville added.

The dinner has been offered since 1935. Camp Burton’s donates the hall.

A fruit and jello salad begins the dinner and a pumpkin pie ends it. Caroling follows.