Sitting at a table in Trotter Convention Center Thursday, Ruthie Armistad patiently waited for her lunch plate. When it came, right on time, it was filled with all the trappings of a Thanksgiving meal.

But in the meantime, Armistad talked with the seven or eight people sitting with her — including her sister, Annette Bradley, and friend, Washington Saffore. That, Armistad said, is perhaps her favorite part of the Thanksgiving tradition she has dutifully and joyfully practiced for 12 years.

“Everything about it is good,” Armistad said. “I try to tell as many people as I can about what a joy it is. I try to bring someone new every year. It’s closeness and it’s really just good fellowship. There are some people I see here and I won’t get to see them until next year’s meal. So I keep coming back.”

Armistad was among the estimated 1,200 to attend Mayor Robert Smith’s 12th Annual Senior Citizens Thanksgiving luncheon. Though “senior citizens” is in the name, Smith said anyone was welcome to come and eat a tray of turkey, dressing, green beans, cranberry sauce and a dessert.

Funded by roughly $10,000 in private donations, Smith said he hosts the luncheon every year to show appreciation to the community — especially senior citizens — and bring people together as a kickoff to the holiday season.

“It’s an opportunity where we can bring the senior citizens together among each other where they can fellowship with family and friends,” Smith said. “They can just have a great time over a nice Thanksgiving meal.”

As diners began filtering into the Trotter at 9:30 a.m., volunteers from Columbus Air Force Base, Columbus High School, the Mayor’s Youth Council and other organizations were preparing plates to serve at 11.

Smith said the meal preparation started earlier this week and was cooked by school cafeteria staffs at Columbus Municipal School District. In order for everything to come together, he said, it took a large group of volunteers. Wednesday morning volunteers Tjajuan Boswell and Doris Ebner spent all day transforming the first floor of the Trotter, decorating each table with fruit and flower arrangements.

Smith said the senior citizens show up each year en masse, with numbers sometimes even topping 1,500. With the public response, he said he has no choice but to continue the city’s tradition.

“One year we missed doing it, and they had a fit about it,” Smith said. “So we know they look forward to it. Some of their friends they haven’t seen since the luncheon last year.”

The only year the Thanksgiving luncheon was canceled was when the Trotter was undergoing renovations in 2014. That year was the only meal Armistad missed.

“I’ve been here every year, except one,” Armistad said. “When they canceled it and I was so disappointed. Just so disappointed. The next year, I was right back here when they had it.”

Bradley joined Armistad her for the Thanksgiving meal two years ago and has attended ever since.

“Everybody just comes together to be thankful,” Bradley said.

Friends Josephine Webber and Willie Covington, have been meeting together at the luncheon for the past seven years. Though they both agree the food is good, it’s not why they return year after year.

“It’s a good place to fellowship,” Webber said. “Good food and nice atmosphere. … I have good memories every year and it’s great seeing people I haven’t seen.”

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