Thanksgiving spirit was plentiful in Sealy last week as citizens worked together to ensure everybody had a chance to enjoy the holiday.

Organizations like HOA Incorporated of Austin County Meals on Wheels and Saddleback Saloon Bar and Grill took unique approaches to make sure locals had an opportunity to enjoy a sense of community last Thursday.

HOA Incorporated of Austin County Meals on Wheels

With the help of roughly 50 volunteers from around Austin County, the Meals on Wheels program was able to provide Thanksgiving meals to 167 senior citizens.

While preparing a traditional Thanksgiving meal is no small task, HOA Meals on Wheels made sure each recipient received many of the Thanksgiving staples including turkey, dressing, green beans, cranberry sauce, corn, whole wheat bread, milk, an orange and a cookie.

HOA Executive Director Theadra “Cookie” Curry explained that she was very grateful for the opportunity to serve her community and sincerely thanked the volunteers who helped make the Thanksgiving holiday special for all the recipients.

“I’m just thankful that through donations and through volunteers, that we are able to continue to serve the citizens of this community despite all the social, economic, financial, political and health-related issues that we have been faced (with) over the last two years,” said Curry while the meals were being delivered Wednesday, Nov. 24. “We are still surviving and we are still able to provide for those that need our service.”

“A lot of gratitude, a lot of thanks, a lot of appreciation. We do get cards, we get notes, we get phone calls from our clients,” Curry said of the response seen from those who utilize the program.

Saddleback Saloon Bar and Grill

Saddleback Saloon Bar and Grill looked to provide both a Thanksgiving meal and a venue for people to relax and enjoy the holiday.

“The Saddleback Angels (made) a Thanksgiving feast for all those folks that do not have family here to be thankful with,” read a Facebook post from Saddleback last week.

The establishment provided a complimentary feast including turkey and many of the standard sides for any guests who spent their holiday with them on Main Street.

“We did have a little potluck that we all kind of cooked a couple of different sides and brought down,” said bartender Kayla Andersen who brought a cranberry salad and creamed corn. “We had turkey, mashed potatoes, I think one of the girls made mac and cheese, we had some pies and cookies. We had quite a bit.”

Whether Thanksgiving was spent in the backyard playing football with the family, at the bar enjoying turkey or at home receiving a hot meal from Meals on Wheels, many locals found a way to give thanks and spread holiday cheer last Thursday.