DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — Olivia Dammann, 31, arrived at the Beerman Family Thanksgiving Day Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 27, with her three children and sister, Rebecca, 24.

The family has come a long way in the past few years.

They are New Orleans natives, refugees from Hurricane Katrina, now settled in Dayton where they live on East Fifth Street. Dammann's three children, Adrian, 10, Colby 9, and Chanel, 5, seemed delighted with the festivities.

They are as grateful as anyone can imagine. The family, which lived along Lake Pontchartrain, lost their home and everything else in the 2005 disaster. Twelve feet of water wiped their house off the map. They survived the Hurricane sheltering in a high school gym. Wind threatened to tear off the roof of the gym.

The Living Word Church relocated the family, Olivia Dammann said.

Having a Thanksgiving Day meal with all the trimmings "makes it easier," this year, she said.

Economic difficulties have made for a rough year, the single mom added. "Everything is tight. They (the children) won't get as much for Christmas this year, but they'll get something."

The dinner, she said, "helps a lot of people out."

Before their meal is set before them, the children talk about their ambitions. Colby said that when he grows up, he'd like to work at Chucky Cheese "bringing food to people."

Adrian, who has more modest ambitions, would like to be president. He's already thought about his campaign. "I'd give everyone enough money to do what they want," he said.

That could generate a lot of votes, he figures.

Chanel would like to be a doctor.

When mom and Rebecca return with groaning plates of food, the family says grace and begins to eat.

Nearby, Jerry Hulsey, 56, is eating with his father. Hulsey, a former Delphi worker now earning under $10 an hour as a security guard, is giving thanks despite a round of bad luck.

His house caught fire and was a total loss following the fierce winds from Hurricane Ike in September. The fire started after electricity was restored. The insurance payment hasn't been settled yet. He has two sons serving in Iraq, he said.

Now surviving on charity, he'd like to get his house restored by the time his sons return. He's thankful for the dinner.

"With the hard times in the area, it's great for comradeship," he said. "It's real important. This is great to come here and have help."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7407 or sbennish@DaytonDailyNews.com.