Our journey began in 2009.  Mike Steinberg, founder and then President of Relyco, approached Blue Latitudes owner Jeff Roemer with a question:  can we do something together for deserved folks in our community in a way that creates an enjoyable experience and memories for both recipients and potential donors alike?

Mike’s idea was to bring in seniors from local assisted living facilities for a meal at Blue Latitudes that they otherwise might not be able to enjoy.  What better meal to celebrate than Thanksgiving?  The annual Thanksgiving Celebration was launched!

Mike, Jeff, and a cadre of local leaders from business and the City of Dover have worked to arrange for 350 seniors to be picked up the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day and brought to Blue Latitudes. Guests were treated to a full Thanksgiving Day meal, served by the donors themselves. Holiday carols and a Christmas gift from Santa topped the whole experience off!

Due to the pandemic in 2020 the whole event had to be reimagined.  What if instead of bringing the guests to the meal, why not bring the meal to the guests?  The event shifted to a take-out meal format allowing the Thanks4Giving volunteers to deliver over 600 individual meals, almost twice the amount normally served in person!

In 2022 Thanks4Giving was able to provide participants with the option of attending in person, or having their meal delivered to them. The delivered meals are produced and packaged at Roost, Blue Latitudes’ sister restaurant, with the help of young adults and donor volunteers. Thanks4Giving now serves over 850 recipients in the greater Dover area with a meal during this event.  The opportunity to have young people work side by side with community leaders has become our way of developing community participation and development for local youths. The sense of “community” enjoyed by all is a perfect way to kick off the Holiday Season!

With the continued support of our donors and volunteers, we expect our efforts to persist for years to come!

David Richard

Board Member


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Jack Roemer

Board Member


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Jeff Roemer

Board Member


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Kate Elwell

Board Member


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Laurie Steinberg

Board Member


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Mark Kane

Board Member


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Mark Leno

Board Member


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Mary Jo Gauthier

Board Member


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Melissa Launder

Board Member


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Michael Steinberg

Board Member


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Robert Franger

Board Member


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Shelley MacGregor

Board Member


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William Breault

Board Member


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