Demonstrating the true community spirit that is often associated with Levittown, several different groups within the community came together to celebrate Thanksgiving a little bit early this year at the Levittown Fire Department's 15th annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Senior Citizens.

This year, as in years past, it was Engine Company 3, of the Levittown Fire Department that collected donations to buy food for this event and planned the entire affair. Once they purchased the food, they dropped it off at the Levittown Vocational Center, where the Culinary Arts students prepared a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner which the volunteers from the fire department served to senior citizens in the community at the Levittown Memorial Education Center.

Originally this event started out as a way to give a good meal to needy seniors in the community but it was such a hit that all seniors, whether they could afford to have their own Thanksgiving dinner, or not, wanted to attend. Since this event is free, the fire department has requested that the seniors who are able to bring gifts to donate to needy children in the community.

The toys that are donated become a part of the fire department's Adopt-A-Family program, in which they make donations to needy families in Levittown. Through this program the families who are receiving the help remain completely anonymous. In addition to the toys collected through this dinner, Engine Company 3 hosts other events aimed at collecting items for local families in need. This weekend they will be hosting a food drive at supermarkets around Levittown and all the food will be distributed through the Adopt-A-Family program. Engine Company 3 holds various fund raisers throughout the year in preparation for the holiday season and the annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Seniors. In addition the department sponsors a food pantry which provides food to needy families in the community throughout the year.

Although the entire engine company participates in the Thanksgiving Dinner, the event is run each year by former captain Andy Booth. In speaking about the dinner, Booth gives much credit to the culinary arts students who spend the week prior to the event preparing the food and to the Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary who serves the food and wraps all the toys. In addition, the Ladies Auxiliary separates all the food collected at the food drives.

Once again the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner was a great success, with approximately 200 local senior citizens enjoying a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.