Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Doug Slowik of Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly pours coffee for Bob Vairo of Calumet at Sunday’s Easter dinner at Sacred Heart Church in Calumet. Little Brothers hosted dinners at nine sites throughout the Western Upper Peninsula.

CALUMET — Seniors across the Western Upper Peninsula found companionship and good meals Sunday at Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly Easter dinners.

Sixty-nine people had come for dinner at Sacred Heart Church in Calumet, with 24 volunteers making meals and serving, said volunteer David Crowley.

He began volunteering at the meals to follow the example of his mother after she died in 1995.

“I just like seeing people be able to be here and have some fellowship with people instead of being alone,” he said.

It is great for Bob Vairo of Calumet, he joked, because “I’m too lazy to make my own meal.”

More seriously, he appreciates Little Brothers always being there to serve and give back.

“If I had a day to live and 10 million bucks, I’d give it to them,” he said.

Also in attendance were Alice and Bernard Destrampe of Hubbell. The couple, married for 64 years, could not single out a favorite part.

“It’s beautiful,” Alice said.

“The food is good, the entertainment is good,” Bernard said. “Everything is good.”

Ham is the standout dish for Carl Rheault of Lake Linden. But he appreciates the whole dinner.

“Every part of this is nice,” he said. “That’s what I like about it — people helping people out.”

Dinners were served in Hancock, Calumet, Houghton, Tapiola, South Range, Mohawk, Ontonagon, Baraga and Marquette. Hot home meals were also delivered from Houghton and Calumet.

From Little Brothers’ Hancock office, people could pick up gifts and flowers for residents at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility.