AUSTINTOWN — Students at Austintown Fitch High School showed their support for senior citizens in the community Wednesday.

Typically, the school hosts two dinners for the seniors, but COVID-19 threw a wrench into the usual plans.

“Every spring and fall we host a senior citizens dinner at the school,” Alexis Weber, the district’s food and service director said. “In the spring, this event got canceled because of the pandemic, but we wanted to make sure the seniors were not overlooked in the fall.”

The school has been doing food packages for about six months, so this event was almost second nature, Weber said.

To keep everyone safe, the school decided to do a drive-thru dinner distribution and entertainment for those who attended. On one side of the high school building was the food distribution and on the other was the school’s band and concert choir.

“We wanted them to enjoy the typical amenities of the evening but in a different style,” Weber said.

Usually, the event draws a crowd of 250 or more, and this year was no exception.

“This year we have around 200 so we’re pretty close to what we usually get. We think it’s a great turnout,” Brittany Morell, marketing and public relations specialist for the school, said.

The seniors were given a lasagna dinner with meatballs, green beans, salad, rolls and lemonade for the price of $2, but Weber said it’s not about the money.

“The point isn’t to make money. It’s to give the seniors an enjoyable evening,” she said.

Weber also added the cost of the dinner covered the cost of the food.

On the other side of the school building, the school’s band and choir kept the attendees entertained, all at a safe distance.

“Usually it’s a remarkable event. To miss it last spring due to all the unknowns of COVID, it was sad not to do it. I was excited when the idea got brought up to do it drive-thru style,” Weber said.

Morell said she was thrilled to interact with the seniors, even though it was for a short period of time.

“I love this event and interacting with the seniors. They’re the most loyal group so we really enjoy feeding them and hearing their stories every year,” Morell said. “Not every community does something like this so I think it’s really nice that our school district gives back to our seniors this way.”