Waterbury Thanksgiving traditions continue with turkey drive, senior dinner

November 12, 2025  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

Waterbury Rotary volunteers help collect frozen turkeys and Thanksgiving dinner food items at the annual turkey drive. FIle photo by Gordon Miller

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, volunteers in the community are gearing up to run two annual events that help ensure that many get to celebrate the holiday.

This weekend, Waterbury Rotary Club will hold its annual Turkey Drive to support the Waterbury Common Market, which will distribute the birds and other dinner foods ahead of Thanksgiving. 

Planning also is well underway for the Waterbury Area Senior Center’s annual Thanksgiving dinner for seniors organized by Waterbury Service Center owner Albert Caron and a group of dedicated volunteers. 

Here are details on both projects with information on how the community can support them. 

Rotary Turkey Drive

The annual Rotary Turkey Drive typically collects around 100 turkeys along with food items to cover all the fixings to be distributed to ensure that everyone who would like to enjoy a Thanskgiving feast has what they need. 

“This is one of our club's cornerstone service projects, and the need for help this holiday season will likely be greater than ever before,” said Rotary co-president Mike Bard. “We want to ensure it's a happy holiday with a full table for all our neighbors, and everyone can help!”

From past experience, many local residents know the assignment: Drop off frozen turkeys at the Waterbury Common Market, 57 South Main Street, on this Saturday, Nov. 15, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. 

Rotary volunteers will be on hand to unload. Other donations, such as monetary gifts, non-perishables, and perishable holiday items are also welcome and appreciated.

After the collection is completed, market staff and volunteers will prepare Thanksgiving meal kits. Pickup for the holiday meal bags will take place next Saturday, Nov. 22, between 10 a.m. and noon at the market. The bags will contain a frozen turkey and all the Thanksgiving fixings. 

Bags are available for anyone in need – please sign up in advance either in person at the market during regular hours, or by calling 802-244-1561. 

The Waterbury Rotary Club and Waterbury Common Market thank the Waterbury Village Market for providing freezer space to store the donated turkeys between the drive and the distribution. 

Any questions related to the drive can be directed to Rotary Club member Ariel Mondlak at arielmondlak@gmail.com or at 802-558-9546.

Senior Center Thanksgiving Dinner

The 21st annual Thanksgiving dinner for the area’s seniors and their families will be held at noon on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, at the Waterbury Area Senior Center on Stowe Street. 

Dinner is served free of charge as a way for the community to say “Thank You” to its seniors for helping to make our communities the caring and supportive places that they are, explains Albert Caron, owner of Waterbury Service Center and chief organizer of the event. Caron began this event in 2005, and it now is a holiday tradition, having skipped just 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dinner will be served at noon for seniors aged 65 and up. Each may bring up to four guest family members, who also will receive dinner at no charge. 

Dinners also will be available for pickup. 

Reservations are required for both dining in and pickup by calling the

senior center at 802-244-1234 by Monday, Nov. 24. 

The meal is prepared and served by volunteers who also decorate the dining room, provide small holiday gifts to the seniors, and take care of cleanup. Much of the food is donated by local businesses. 

Any businesses or individuals who would like to contribute food or funds,  unwrapped gifts, or who would like to volunteer should contact organizers Albert Caron at 802-244-7202 or Marge Gulyas at 802-793-0879.