For some in community, Thanksgiving doesn't mean a day off

Thanksgiving Day means business as usual for many people in the community.

Wheatfields Senior Living Community had a team working on Thanksgiving to make the holiday special for the seniors living in the community. In addition to serving the community a Thanksgiving dinner, they also greeted the children who came to take their relatives out for the holiday and hosted a professional pianist who came in to provide music for the occasion.

Treasa Hester, the receptionist at Wheatfields Senior Living Community, said she had a turkey dinner with her family planned for the evening after she got off work. She said she is thankful for family: her “…beautiful daughter and husband, and the best grandbaby anybody could have, Madison.”

Nicole Jouett, the assistant general manager at La Quinta Inn & Suites, spent part of the holiday working the reception desk, greeting customers and checking in new arrivals.

Jouett said she is very thankful for her family and friends. Her three kids “…weren't too happy about it, this is the first time I've worked (the holiday) in a long time. But they are having fun with their dad.” Jouett and her coworkers had a potluck at work and she planned to celebrate after work with her family.

Salvador Nanez, an assistant manager at O'Reilly Auto Parts, said his favorite part of the job is helping out customers with projects they are working on. Nanez volunteers every year to work the Thanksgiving holiday so his co-workers can spend time with their kids. Nanez said this year he is thankful for “everything: family, friends, work and health.” Although he was working, he still planned to celebrate the holiday with his family in the evening when he got off work.

Jesse Karges spent her morning volunteering for the fifth year in a row at the Lighthouse Mission checking in members of the community for their meals. She said that although it used to bother her family when she wasn't with them on the holiday, she told them “Ya'll have me for the rest of my life, these people have me for the rest of my life.”

Karges said that volunteering gives her a good feeling in her heart. Karges planned to spend Thanksgiving with her family after she was done volunteering.