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Anyone in need, hungry, lonely or who just wants to gather with neighbors on Thanksgiving Day in Chesapeake, can turn to Buffalow Family & Friends Community Days.
The family-oriented, community outreach nonprofit invites everyone to its 10th annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner from noon until 3 p.m. Nov. 28 at 19th and B streets in the city’s South Norfolk section.
The free holiday feed is open to anyone and everyone. It will serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the expected side dishes and desserts. In addition, those in need of warm clothing will be able to avail themselves of free winter wear.
The elderly and shut-ins can arrange for free meal deliveries on that day.
The community help organization “offers support and encouragement to the community with educational, health, food and daily essential services,” according to BuffalowFamily.org. It sees itself as “ordinary people working together to make a difference in the lives of others.”
The initiative was begun 10 years ago by Nischelle Buffalow, a 2017 Woman of the Year recipient by the Women’s Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce — Chesapeake. She started the effort as a way to give back to her neighbors and community.
The first Thanksgiving feast was attended by around 25 people. This year’s banquet is expected to draw upwards of 300 people.
But the Buffalow family doesn’t stop after Thanksgiving. It also sponsors an annual Warm and Fuzzy Christmas clothing giveaway, donating winter wear to those in need. This year’s is from 5:30 until 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Community Center at 2019 Windy Road.
The family also organizes school supply and backpack donations at the start of each school year, community health and wellness days, and annual Fourth of July community cookouts.
To make a donation, to arrange for a Thanksgiving meal delivery or for more information, call 739-5222, email communitydays05@gmail.com or visit buffalowfamily.org.
A FIRST AMERICAN
Come to the Indian River Library, 2320 Old Greenbrier Road, to learn about Native American pride and heritage.
Chief Jesse Nighthawk George, chief for Intertribal Peace Virginia, will discuss his native American heritage from 2 until 4 p.m. Nov. 30.
The Chesapeake resident is the grandnephew of the late actor, poet and author Chief Dan George, former chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
The event is free and open to all ages.
For more details, call 410-7003 or email ldlubala@infopeake.org.
FOR WHOM THE POIN-SETTIAS
Weekend Scoop
On Nov. 24 everyone is invited to take a poinsettia tour from noon until 4 p.m at White’s Nursery and Garden Center at 3133 Old Mill Road.
Although Dec. 12 is actually the official National Poinsettia Day as mandated by the U.S. Congress, White’s is celebrating early.
The free event invites the public to tour the facility’s copious rows of red, colorful and seasonal plants, which the Aztecs called “cuetlaxochitl.” The ancient Mexicans used the plant’s sap to control fevers and its leaves to create red dyes. But now we use them to celebrate the Christmas season.
The plant was named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, a botanist and the first U.S. ambassador, at the time the title was minister, to Mexico. Poinsett introduced the cuetlaxochitl to the United States, so, naturally, it was named after him.
The festivities will also feature a visit from Santa from noon to 4 p.m. and an appearance by the Hurrah Players from 1 until 2 p.m.
Call the nursery at 487-2300 for more information.
Eric W. Feber, ewjfeber@gmail.com