A way to give back: Annual community Thanksgiving happening this month

Volunteers will once again spend the Thanksgiving holiday giving back to the community this year during the 39th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

All are welcome to swing by Mother’s Cupboard Food Pantry on Thanksgiving Day for turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, dinner roll and pumpkin pie.

Anyone needing deliveries can also call COAD before Nov. 22 to be put on the delivery list.

The Brown County EMT Association started the dinner nearly 40 years ago. The association dissolved in 2018, but the dinners have carried on every year since thanks to volunteers who continue to show up, put on gloves, a hair net and dish out the classic Thanksgiving meal.

Indiana University Lifeline Paramedic Chris Henderson said that to him this dinner is a way to give back and to show gratitude to the community that emergency services has helped over the years.

“I look at this as one of the major event for the seniors where they come together and talk,” he said. “That’s what I’m missing from having the dinner at the school, is coming together.”

Previously, the dinner was a sit-down meal at Brown County High School, giving residents who may not have a family to spend the holiday with a place to go and socialize.

The dinner will be a drive-thru again this year due to the number of COVID cases and hospitals experiencing peak situations at the point in time when the decision had to be made, Henderson said.

Another major factor was making sure that families have food on Thanksgiving, he said.

Last year, about 450 people were served.

Brown County YMCA Executive Director Kim Robinson, who also volunteers with Brown County COAD (Community Organizations Active in a Disaster), organizing volunteers for this year’s dinner.

The volunteer group is also working on finding turkeys. Henderson said there’s a shortage currently. The C4 culinary program in Columbus will cook the turkeys.

“The major push is getting families to the dinner and serving who we can get to the dinner,” he said. “The whole key part is having a meal that day. If you need or want a meal, we can get you a meal.”

TRIAD and the Interfaith Alliance are also working on identifying individuals and families to serve. The dinner has also been advertised on flyers distributed throughout the community. A message was also sent out via the Brown County Schools ParentSquare app.

Henderson said they’re also trying to figure out how to keep the dinner going in the future.

The money the EMT Association provided a couple years ago when they dissolved will run out in five years.

“When those funds run out in five years, we have to figure out how to keep the dinner running,” Henderson said.

Monetary donations will be accepted before and after the dinner at People’s State Bank under “EMT Thanksgiving Dinner.”

Donations are also welcome the day of the dinner.

For any proceeds and donations received that are not needed to pay for the dinner, Henderson said the plan is to try to give the remaining funds to the No Name Committee and the Shop With a Cop program, both of which help local children get new clothing for Christmas.