AUXVASSE - Auxvasse Loafers Week is a time for friends to reunite, relax and raise money for the Auxvasse Community Center.
"The atmosphere is cheerful and crowded, and today's just a beautiful day," said Judith Bickel, who was catching up with friends with husband Mike.
This week, the tradition entered its 60th year. Loafers Week began as a one-day event at the old Auxvasse grain elevator; friends gathered on their Presidents Day off to escape the cold and enjoy good company. It has since grown to a week-long celebration.
Attendees may play card games, dominoes and other board games. Free coffee, iced tea and peanuts will be available all week for everyone that attends. This all takes place at 8 a.m. each day until Saturday at the Auxvasse Community Hall on Main Street.
On Tuesday, employees of Callaway Bank served a Champ's fried chicken meal to a vast crowd of attendees. (Proceeds were donated toward the Auxvasse Community Center.) A crowd of about two dozen students from Hatton-McCredie Elementary's Junior National Honors Society helped bus tables.
"This is Loafers Week's 60th year, and I'm sure Callaway Bank has been here every year, even if it's just to eat," Callaway Bank marketing director Debbie LaRue said.
She said the bank started serving a meal during Loafers Week three or four years ago.
"It's so much fun to see all these folks," bank president and CEO Kim Barnes said. "We're a community bank, so we want to support local civic organizations and reasons for folks to get together."
Several middle school students helping with lunch said this was their first time attending.
"I imagined it'd be a bunch of old people who are really cute," said Samantha Cannon, adding her assumption seemed to be correct.
Organizer Donal Knipp, who's attended Loafers Week since its inception, said he was grateful for the Hatton-McCredie group's help.
"I don't think we've ever had so many kids (volunteering) at one time," he said. "They're learning to give service to the community and help others."
He's considering trying to add an evening meal in the hopes of drawing in more young families to dine and loaf. Younger generations often can't attend at lunch due to school or work, he said.
That said, attendance levels have been high so far this week, he added. Tuesday's meal began at 11 a.m., and volunteers had to make two runs for more fried chicken by 11:15 a.m.
"We had 70 or 75 yesterday," Knipp said. "The weather makes a big difference. Fried chicken and turkey days are always big. We've bought eight 20-pound turkeys for Thursday."
All meals are priced at $8. Part of the proceeds goes back to the community center, and participating nonprofits get to keep the rest.
Today: Sons of Confederate Veterans will serve pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, dessert and a drink.
Thursday: Auxvasse Community Center will serve turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, slaw, dessert and a drink.
Friday: The Mexico Go Gitters will serve pork loin, brown potatoes, green beans, a roll, dessert and a drink
Saturday: Auxvasse Lions Club will serve its famed all-you-can-eat pancakes along with bacon, sausage, orange juice, milk and coffee from 8 a.m.-noon.
Purchasing a meal buys entry into a drawing for $50 cash gifts donated by United Security Bank.
The Auxvasse Lions Club will also be holding a 50/50 raffle all week with the proceeds going to the hall. The winning names will be drawn and gifts given saturday. You do not have to be present to win.