Nearly 200 turn out to enjoy turkey dinner, games and live music
CARIBOU, Maine — The Caribou Knights of Columbus held a festive gathering Sunday for nearly 200 senior citizens, with bingo, dancing, music, and free food. According to Grand Knight Bill Belanger, this annual banquet has taken place for over 40 years.
In order to provide free food, the Knights have to organize raffles, chicken barbecues, and bingo fundraisers, which Belanger says the bulk of the money for the event comes from.
“There are 20 Knights involved with putting this event together,” said Deputy Grand Knight Gil Masse, one of the banquet’s main organizers. “Each of us put in about 20 hours apiece to make this happen. The cooks have been here all week, and there will be a lot of people here tomorrow cleaning up.”
People started gathering at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 1 p.m. Nov. 22 to enjoy music and light refreshments. Guests could win cash prizes during the 3 p.m. Bingo game, and everyone was served a large meal at 4 p.m.
According to David Stewart, Sr. one of the head chefs, an 18-pound turkey and five 28-pound turkeys were prepared for the guests, along with 200 dinner rolls.
“Pauline Emond helped make the stuffing and peel potatoes,” said Stewart, who in on his sixth year of cooking for the senior banquet. “We also made 100 pounds of potatoes, 50 pounds of carrots, about 100 pounds of stuffing. Guerrette Farms donated all the potatoes, and Hannaford gave us a $50 gift certificate.”
Both Stewart and Belanger expressed that, as long as there are young people interested in helping out with their local community, they would be happy to see the banquet continue for another 40 years.
