What we think: Dinner is way to share meaning of holiday

Talk about it

The 19th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner is a great opportunity for people to enjoy fellowship and a hearty meal with others. We’re thankful for those people who work every year to make this dinner happen in our community and we encourage people to enjoy the meal.

The dinner, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Concordia Lutheran Church, will have turkey and all the fixings, including dressing, cranberry sauce, corn, mashed potatoes and apple pie.

The free meal is geared toward anyone but particularly people who may not have the funds or the family for the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Seniors are encouraged to participate and if they need transportation or a delivered meal they can call the church at 252-2819.

The Community Thanksgiving Dinner began when the late Fritz Buegel, who owned the Pantry Café in Jamestown, wanted no one to eat alone on Thanksgiving. Nineteen years later the event is an annual tradition that brings together people who want to share the meal and fellowship. For some, it’s a way to give to others. For others, it’s an opportunity to enjoy a holiday meal with people they do and don’t know on a day they might otherwise be alone.

It’s the sponsors and volunteers who make this meal happen and we thank them for their efforts. Sponsors provide funding for almost 1,000 pounds of food. More than 100 people turn out to volunteer, whether it is cooking or serving food, cleaning tables, delivering meals, providing transportation or serving beverages. The meal wouldn’t be the success it is each year without them.

How successful is it? Organizers are expecting to serve more than 500 meals with 200 being delivered to seniors. That number has remained pretty consistent in recent years, a testimony to the meal’s success.

The dinner is one reason to give thanks this year. We know there are many more.

If you are alone or want fellowship, dine at the Community Thanksgiving Dinner. If you have other plans, give thanks for what is meaningful to you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

(Editorials are the opinion of Jamestown Sun management and the newspaper’s editorial board)

Tags: what we think, opinion, editorials, holiday, thanksgiving, community, dinner