Tops will provide Thanksgiving dinner at Hospice residence

Provided photo – Rick Wartinger, manager of the Tops in Albion, agreed to have the store donate a fully prepared Thanksgiving dinner to residents at the Hospice of Orleans Martin-Linsen Residence.

Press Release, Hospice of Orleans

ALBION – Tops ran out of their 49-cents-a-pound sale turkeys this past week due to the storm closing the NYS Thruway, but that didn’t stop Rick Wartinger, manager of the Albion store, from committing a Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner to terminally ill patients at the Hospice of Orleans Martin-Linsen Residence.

For the second year in a row, Tops will donate a complete Thanksgiving Dinner so that residents at the Martin-Linsen Residence can celebrate Thanksgiving dinner in their “home away from home.”

Last year’s Thanksgiving dinner at the Residence was such a success that Hospice decided to once again ask Tops to contribute a heat-and-eat Thanksgiving Dinner. While patients enjoy nutritious meals prepared daily at the nearby Villages of Orleans Health & Rehabilitation Center, the meals are not cooked on site but warmed before serving.

Last year residents reported that the smell of freshly cooked turkey made it seem like a real traditional Thanksgiving even though they weren’t at home. When approached with the idea of providing that same Thanksgiving Day experience to current residents, Wartinger was enthusiastic in his support.

The fresh turkey dinner features a fully cooked Butterball bird, herb stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, turkey gravy, sweet potato casserole, cranberry orange relish and, of course, a pumpkin pie.

Hospice personnel will pick up the complimentary meal, valued at $74.99, around 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, warm it up for the recommended two hours, and serve the grateful residents. The smell of roasted turkey warming in the oven is sure to bring back happy memories and brighten the day of the residents and staff alike.

Thank you to Tops for making Thanksgiving possible for patients at the Martin-Linsen Residence so that they and their families can “live” Thanksgiving and not just “cook” it.