By Ethan Forman
DANVERS — Town officials want to head off the possibility that dozens of homeless families living in motels could spend Thanksgiving without turkey and all the fixings.
In recent weeks, the town has arranged to serve turkey dinners to homeless people living in three Danvers motels. So far, there are 30 takers.
A longtime program that provides meals to approximately 75 homebound seniors will expand. Lions Club members deliver the food, and Supino's Restaurant on Route 1 prepares and donates it.
There were 132 families, with 201 children, living in motel rooms in Danvers on Oct. 30. About half of the kids are too young for school. The town has approximately 10 percent of all homeless families living in motels in the state, officials said.
However, the number of families fluctuates daily as some arrive and others find more permanent places to live. The relatively low number taking the meals tells organizers families may be making arrangements to spend Thanksgiving elsewhere.
Just before the start of school, the town saw a spike in homeless families living in motels amid a lengthy recession in which the jobless rate hit 9.3 percent in the state in September. Officials said the homeless come from cities and towns from around the Bay State and even from other states.
Officials are trying to make sure that any homeless family that wants a Thanksgiving meal gets one.
"These are people who are in our town, and we are trying to do the best we can to help them," Town Manager Wayne Marquis said. It would be impossible for a family to prepare such a meal with a microwave oven and a hot plate.
"None of us want to be in any of those situations," said Karen Nelson, Danvers' director of planning and human services.
The town sent around a flier to the Days Inn motel on Endicott Street, the Motel 6 and the Knights Inn, both on Route 1, for anyone who wants a meal and has nowhere else to go.
About 30 people signed up, said Pam Parkinson, director of senior and social services, who is coordinating the effort.
The deadline to sign up passed Friday, but officials said they would accept a few more applications.
Restaurant owner Ron Supino of Middleton said he needs a rough head count so he can make sure he has enough food on hand. The meal is a traditional turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash, corn, cranberry sauce, rolls, butter and dessert.
When asked why he was donating the meals, Supino said: "It's Thanksgiving."
"I was very gratified a local business, a family-owned business, would be committed to that degree," Marquis said. He plans to sit down today with a group of officials who have been meeting every few weeks on how to address the needs of the homeless.
The effort to provide a Thanksgiving meal comes on top of the Danvers People to People Food Pantry providing about 150 meals for struggling Danvers families to prepare at home. The food pantry is also being taxed, Parkinson said.
Knights Inn is down to a handful of families and will participate in the meal program. Guests can either take their meals back to their rooms or eat them in the dining area, Sales Manager Lisa Connaughton said.
"I think it's a very good idea," Days Inn manager John Jalbert said about the Thanksgiving dinner.
Days Inn is housing about 65 families, and the staff has distributed fliers to guests and plans to work with the town to distribute the food. The motel has a small breakfast area, so it cannot accommodate every guest outside their rooms.
Ma Duke's on Maple Street may be another option for homeless families, said Jalbert, who has distributed fliers for the Maple Street mainstay's free Thanksgiving meal giveaway.
Debbie Marticio said this will be the third year Ma Duke's plans to offer free Thanksgiving meals to all.
Last year, she served 250 meals, and she already has orders for 122 this year. The restaurant at 139 Maple St. will also deliver meals. It opens at 10 a.m. and will close "when everyone's fed," Marticio said.
On what will be a slow day at Motel 6, management plans to set up an area where the homeless can dine outside their rooms.
"We are going to let them take over the pool area so they can have a decent meal," motel manager Bernard Prude said. The area is already set up with lounge chairs and tables, and delivery of the meal will be about noon to 1 p.m. The homeless guests can stay as long as they like, and the motel plans to provide drinks.
"Anything to give back," Prude said. "Especially with the economy. It's tough. We are trying to help."
Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673 or eforman@salemnews.com.
