Lombardo's 40th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner

Nov. 18, 2011 - PRLog -- This Thanksgiving more than 50 million pumpkin pies will be prepared. Yet, our tendency as a nation to prepare too much food will mean that the equivalent of 12 million of those pies will go to waste. This season, prepare one less pie and consider those less fortunate. For 40 years the Lombardo family has been doing their part to assure that no pies, potatoes, parsnip or any other turkey dinner accoutrements see a garbage bag on their watch.

For the 40th consecutive year, the Lombardo family, owners of Randolph’s popular Lombardo’s event facility and Vincent’s Nightclub, will invite hundreds of guests who are in need of a meal this Thanksgiving to attend their annual holiday dinner. A tradition that began almost four decades ago by Salvatore Lombardo and his mother, Nina, who decided to serve a Thanksgiving dinner to those in need. They would have never imagined the rich tradition they were starting and the way it would shape the Lombardo’s community for years to come.

Lombardo’s works with local senior centers and Salvation Army’s in the greater Boston and South Shore areas to provide tickets for the dinner to those who may want to attend. This year the family expects around 1,000 people for Thanksgiving dinner. This year’s dinner will be made of 420 pounds of turkey, 300 pounds of potatoes, 20 gallons of gravy, 10 cases of pasta with 35 gallons of delicious marinara sauce and 150 pies, all of which will not to go to waste.

Paula Lombardo with her siblings Vincent, Dennis and Nina, their mother Mabel and nine grandchildren oversee this event, enjoying the legacy of a husband, a father and a grandfather as they make a difference in the lives of those who attend. It has been three years since Salvatore passed and Paula Lombardo says, “Our family feels very blessed to be able to continue this tradition that started 40 years ago. We cannot begin our family Thanksgiving day celebration without starting our day at Lombardo’s at this annual event.”

In addition to Paula and her family, this nourishing holiday production is put on with the assistance of over 125 volunteers.  These dedicated volunteers range from Firefighters to Girl Scouts and include Lombardo’s staff and local families, all who work hard to provide a delicious dinner and memorable holiday for local elderly, homeless and needy.