It might seem too early to be thinking about Thanksgiving, but two local groups are already well into their planning.
The Brown County YMCA has agreed to take over hosting the 37th annual free community Thanksgiving dinner this year at Brown County High School.
The EMT Association has hosted the dinner for many years, but that group dissolved last year. One of the concerns the association had about dissolving was not knowing who would organize the dinner.
Christopher Henderson served as treasurer for the association and works as a paramedic for the Columbus Regional Hospital ambulance service. He will continue to help run the dinner for the next five years to help train his replacement.
Henderson said it was important that the dinner continue because it’s an opportunity for residents, especially seniors living alone, to get out and socialize on a holiday that is known for togetherness.
Local food pantries also are closed that day, so the only way someone can get a Thanksgiving meal is if they go to a restaurant. But that can be out of the price range for some families.
Anyone can come and eat at the high school for free with no questions asked.
TRIAD will deliver meals to seniors who are homebound and to people working on the holiday at businesses, with law enforcement and for EMS.
Henderson approached Brown County YMCA Executive Director Kim Robinson about the YMCA taking it over. Robinson said it’s the “perfect fit” for the YMCA.
She recently began working on the Y’s Togetherhood program, which is a national YMCA initiative. The program is about giving back to the community, which fits into the Y’s “social responsibility” part of its mission.
The Togetherhood Committee of YMCA members and community leaders, will take the lead on the dinner, in conjunction with Henderson.
When the EMT Association dissolved, it set aside $10,000 to keep the dinner going for five years. Each year, various corporations donate food and others donate turkeys, which helps keep the cost to around $2,000 a year. That money also is used to pay for advertising and buying any food that is not donated.
Whatever extra money is donated the day of the dinner, or at Peoples State Bank in town before Thanksgiving, will be split evenly among the No Name Committee, which is responsible for the children’s auction in December, and Shop With a Cop.
The YMCA will not benefit financially from the dinner, and the money donated will go into a separate account, Robinson added.
On average, 300 to 400 meals are served on Thanksgiving Day. Of those, 150 to 180 are delivered to the homebound, and that number continues to increase, Henderson said.
The hope is that with the Y taking over sponsoring the dinner, more families will choose to enjoy Thanksgiving with their community at the high school.
On average, 22 to 28 turkeys are served each year, depending on their size. Everything except for the turkeys and desserts is made the day of the dinner.
Henderson said he hopes to work through several community groups, like the Weekend Backpack program and church groups, to help get the word out to families. Information also will be shared with Head Start families. Head Start is currently housed in the YMCA.
Organizers don’t want a stigma to be attached to the dinner; they want the community to know it’s for anyone who wants to enjoy a meal with their community on the holiday.
Volunteers are needed to help serve meals throughout the day. In the past, people have just showed up to help, but this year Henderson hopes to get volunteers scheduled ahead of time. Anyone interested in helping should email Robinson at [email protected].
Robinson, Henderson and their families will be there, too.
“My family doesn’t know anything other than the community Thanksgiving dinner,” Henderson said.
Robinson said this is her favorite meal to prepare and enjoy. “There’s no pressure of presents, it’s just sit down and be together, enjoy some good food and community,” she said.
She added that the dinner will allow for Y members to get to know their community better. “It just fits right in to what we’re all about, make some connections with people.”
