RICH SQUARE — Sixth grade Conway Middle School student Kanar Fleetwood said she enjoyed being a part of the pre-Thanksgiving dinner at Rich Square Manor Tuesday night.

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Fleetwood and her brother Kevonte Cary, a third grader at Central Elementary, helped to serve the meal, beverages and dessert to residents and their families. Her reason for helping was simple — she wanted to be a good citizen.

“This was my first time here, but it probably won’t be my last time,” she said.

This is what Tahir Majeed, administrator at Rich Square Manor and Rich Square Villa, wants to hear. He wants the residents to be more involved with the community.

“They (the residents) are part of the community,” he said. “I don’t want them to be isolated.”

He added the staff provides what the residents needs, but knows they need more. “They need someone to talk to them about their lives,” he said.

The pre-Thanksgiving gathering was just the first of many activities fostering involvement with the community. A pre-Thanksgiving dinner will be held Thursday night at Rich Square Villa for 29 residents. “We will have the same kind of Christmas dinner in December,” he said.

The 15 residents of the memory unit at the Manor don’t go outside much. “We would love to have young volunteers — school age and college students,” he said. “It is not only for the residents but the young people as well. They can learn from each other.”

He added the residents are very happy when a young person comes into the building.

Evelyn Baewer and Mary Lassiter, both of Potecasi, came to the dinner to see their mother, Acra Jefferson.

At 96, Jefferson is the oldest resident at the Manor. Her daughters were very pleased with the dinner. “It’s just marvelous,” Baewer said. “Everything is beautiful.”

Lassiter was happy to see her mother eating. “She doesn’t normally eat because she doesn’t have the appetite like some,” she said.

Baewer said the dinner was a good way to start Thanksgiving. Both had plans to take their mother to their other sister’s home for Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Peggy Cary, marketing, transportation and administrator in training at Rich Square Manor/Villa, said she thought the event went extremely well. She said she enjoyed watching residents with their families. “Some of them ate so much better with their family here,” she said. “I see smiles on faces I haven’t seen in quite awhile.”

Maybe, she added, homestyle service is something we might look into on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Tracey Futrell was impressed with everything. “It was great and everything looked real well,” she said.

Futrell and her family ate with her dad, Lewis Richardson.

“It was good for the ones who don’t have a chance to meet with their family,” she said.

Futrell said she visits her dad twice a week. “He was happy to see us here,” she said.

Jesse Boone came from Bullock to see his aunt Mary Bryant and enjoy the meal with her. Boone took several pictures and said the event was excellent.

He said, “Events like these are good for the residents.”