Out of an abundance of caution Rep. Adrian Madaro’s Madaro Family Community Fund Annual Thanksgiving Day dinner will be takeout only for a second year in a row due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The event, which will be held on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 25), usually helps feed the elderly, homeless, low-income or residents that just need a little company during the holiday.
While the charitable dinner, founded by Rep. Madaro’s predecessor former Rep. Carlo Basile, was always held in person–this year’s event will be “take-out” only like last year.
The event will be hosted by the Madaro Family Community Fund from 11 am to 1 pm at the Salesian Boys & Girls Club and is free and open to all. Walk-up and drive-thru pick up of holiday meals will be done outside in the Salesian Parking lot at 150 Byron St.
This is the third year the annual dinner has been held at the Boys & Girls Club since switching from Sacred Heart Church and the second year it has been “take-out” only due to the pandemic.
While Rep. Madaro hopes to return to an in-person event next year, keeping the Thanksgiving Day Dinner as a take-out operation ensures the practice of social distancing and keeps the community safe while still being able to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to families in need.
Madaro said he anticipates an increase from 500 dinners to 600 dinners on Thanksgiving and volunteers will begin preparing food on Wednesday ahead of the holiday.
“It worked out well last year,” said Madaro. “Working with the Boys & Girls Club we came up with this plan in 2020 and think we can effectively continue to feed hundreds of East Boston residents during the holiday until things return to normal, hopefully by next Thanksgiving.”
Madaro said the event has grown year after year and services residents throughout Eastie. Madaro said the decision to move from the Sacred Heart Church three years ago was out of necessity with the Boys & Girls Club being a little more centrally located than Sacred Heart.
Like years past, the food will be prepared by Spinelli’s chefs, which included salad, a full turkey dinner, all the trimmings and dessert.