The Auburn Senior Activity Center hosts a Friendsgiving lunch event each year for people to celebrate Thanksgiving. Each senior guest is welcomed with roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, green beans, cranberries, rolls and pumpkin pie. Auburn Rotary, Auburn Soroptimist and the Auburn Noon Kiwanis are service clubs that help the center each year. The staff also roasts 300 pounds of poultry, which can amount to 20 turkeys.

Radine Lozier is the manager of the Senior Activity Center. Lozier said she has been working at the center for 40 years, and the annual Friendsgiving lunch was going on long before her arrival.

“It’s a way to let people who might be alone or might not have family in the area, or just any people aged 50 or older, enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal with their friends and be part of a community,” she said.

The 2025 Friendsgiving event is on Wednesday, Nov. 25. During the celebration, the staff serves two lunches. The first one begins at 11 a.m., while the next starts at 1 p.m. Each luncheon seats 150 people.

“We usually get about 300 people,” said Lozier. “Last year we were sold out … we have people that participate at the center regularly, and they’ll reserve a table for them and all their friends. So, it becomes a highlight of a lot of these people’s Thanksgiving.”

Sharon West is a longtime participant who has been coming to Friendsgiving since 2018.

“The food is great,” said West. “My favorite memory is all the happy people and a lot of friends that come. It’s just a great, great place to be.”

Marlene Hegwood is another participant who has been attending since 2014.

“It feels a lot like Thanksgiving,” said Hegwood. “It’s like getting together with your family. There’s a lot of people here who we talk to during lunch.”

There is a suggested $5 donation for people age 60 or over. For those under age 60, there is a $10 fee. Tickets can be picked up directly from the Senior Activity Center, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“My favorite part is the way that the Senior Center smells the day before,” said Lozier. “Roasting all the turkeys and getting everything ready. This is a time when everyone just comes together and celebrates what we’re thankful for and I think it reminds us of how fortunate we really are to have a place like this and have the support of service clubs and the city and people that come together to make sure that everyone feels a sense of warmth and belonging and happiness.”

According to data collected by Statista and the Pew Research Center, approximately 5% to 14% of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving alone. The reasons for celebrating alone often include work or travel, and the demographic tends to skew toward older Americans. About 73% of Americans said they would rather celebrate with friends, such as a Friendsgiving.

Lori Black is a participant in the annual luncheon who looks forward to this event every year.

“Well, my kids are far away, so I don’t get to enjoy being with them,” said Black. “This is my way of celebrating Thanksgiving and having fun.”

The Senior Activity Center also hosts a holiday meal on Dec. 16. The staff will serve lunches at 11 a.m. and another at 1 p.m. that can serve 150 people. There are currently 45 seats left for the 11 a.m. luncheon and 100 left for 1 p.m. luncheon. There will be ham, potatoes, vegetables, rolls and dessert.

Reserve your seat by picking up tickets at the Senior Center, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations cannot be made by phone. Visit the center in person to secure your spot with a $5 suggested donation for ages 60 and over and a $10 fee for those under age 60.

Photos courtesy of Auburn Senior Activity Center