Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly to host Christmas dinners; volunteers needed

HANCOCK -- On December 25, 2016, Christmas Day, Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly will be hosting a traditional Holiday Dinner with candlelight, fresh flowers and live music. The dinners in Houghton, Hancock, Calumet, Copper City, South Range, Tapiola, Ontonagon and Baraga will begin at 2 p.m.  Seniors who have no family nearby and will be alone for the holiday are welcome to attend. To make a reservation, call 906-482-6944. 

Little Brothers will also be preparing and delivering meals for homebound elderly who cannot attend the holiday parties. Volunteers are needed to help with transportation, cooking, making desserts, set-up, serving and clean-up. Especially needed are volunteers to help with transporting the elderly to the Holiday dinners and/or delivering Christmas dinners and visiting homebound elders. To volunteer, please call 906-482-6944 or visit their Web site.

Senior citizens enjoy holiday food, music at Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly Christmas dinner in Hancock

Senior citizens enjoy musical entertainment during the Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly Christmas meal at the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock. The singers are members of the Michigan Tech Concert Choir, led by Jared Anderson. A flute quintet also entertained during the annual event. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Upper Michigan Chapter, hosted holiday meals served by community volunteers for senior citizens on Christmas Day in several Upper Peninsula locations -- including Baraga, Calumet, Copper City, Hancock, Houghton, Marquette, Ontonagon, South Range, and Tapiola.

The seniors who attended the Christmas 2015 dinner at the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock enjoyed a special treat of holiday music provided by members of the Michigan Tech Concert Choir, led by Jared Anderson, and a flute quintet.

"It is a wonderful party, and I made some new friends!" said volunteer Carolyn Peterson of Houghton. 

Volunteers visit with senior citizen guests of Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly during the 2015 Christmas Day dinner at the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock. At the table in the foreground volunteer Carolyn Peterson (center in red) chats with one of the guests. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

Community volunteers prepare and serve the meals in addition to setting and decorating tables and, finally, washing the dishes. During the meal volunteers sit with the guests and visit. Each table includes flowers, a tradition from France, where Little Brothers originated.

Little Brothers serves people age 60 and older who are aging without social support. It was founded in Paris, France, in 1946 by Armand Marquiset, a French nobleman who saw the plight of the elderly living in war-ravaged Europe. Armand wanted to help and began by sheltering the homeless elderly and taking meals and clothing to them. The program developed to include friendship, home visits and holiday celebrations for these people who missed the love of family.

"Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly is an extraordinary organization which touches the lives not only of elders but also of many, many people in our area who volunteer and donate, making this a caring community," said Hancock resident Susan Burack, who often volunteers for Little Brothers activities.

To learn more about Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly visit their Web site. You can also visit them on Facebook.