by Caroline Abide, Contributing Writer
BILOXI (GG) — On the morning of Thursday, November 13th, seniors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast trickled into the Donal Snyder Community Center for a Thanksgiving breakfast held by the city of Biloxi Parks and Recreation Department. As the Biloxi Fire Department cooked up a hearty breakfast for their community elders, a few walkers on the free walking track on the second story looked down to see locals getting acquainted over coffee on the center’s basketball courts. A variety of city officials attended, including Jamie Lee, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation; Biloxi’s Chief Administrator, Rick Weaver; and Councilman Dr. Paul Tisdale of Ward 5.
According to Lee, the event was originally a more traditional Thanksgiving luncheon for seniors, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, the city adapted with a grab and go breakfast model. Five years later, the breakfast has become its own tradition, though now with an emphasis on fellowship among citizens from around the coast, along with Biloxi city officials.
“I do want to thank the fire department again. They do wonderful work for the city of Biloxi, and they only had to put out one fire in the kitchen when the bacon caught on fire.” Dr. Tisdale quipped during his welcome remarks.
Following this, Biloxi Police Chief John Miller and Fire Chief Nicholaus Geiser shared some helpful safety reminders. “It’s that time of year for the scam artists and con artists to prey on us if they have an opportunity,” Miller said of the holiday season, before outlining a few common scams to watch out for.
Geiser reminded attendees of Biloxi’s free smoke detector installation program, which residents could conveniently sign up for at a nearby table. Finally, Chief Miller said a brief blessing and it was time to eat. The firemen doled out scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage, and everyone took their places at festively decorated round tables. As locals broke bread with friends new and old, health care workers from Care Access provided no-cost heart and kidney screenings in the adjacent room.
Similar senior-oriented events are held monthly at the Snyder Community Center. For those looking to get involved, visit the City of Biloxi website to subscribe to BMail, the monthly newsletter, or follow any of the City’s official social media pages.
(Photos by Caroline Abide/The Gazebo Gazette)
