Around 230 people gathered at the Morden Friendship Centre (MFC) in Morden to share an early Thanksgiving meal.

Stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, and two kinds of pie filled the plates as people sat and talked.

"It's purely social," said recently hired executive director, Dale Ready.

"It's an opportunity for our older adults in the community to get together and enjoy a pre-thanksgiving meal."

Entertainment for the evening was provided by Wayne Motheral who played some jazz, country, and easy rock favourites.

Most of the preparation for the dinner was arranged by Pat Dance, the interim executive director, who took over until Ready was hired.

Only three weeks into the job, Ready said he's lucky to be in the position.

"[I'm] really excited about the opportunity here," he said. "It's a very vibrant place; the volunteers are incredible; the programs are varied and offered a number of times in a month."

Future plans for the MFC include arranging rides into Winnipeg for members who can't drive themselves. During the Folklorama festival in August, a shuttle service was arranged to bring seniors to the various pavilions around the city. Ready said this was well-received and plans to build on that service.