By Abigail Youmans and Corbin Parmer | The Democrat
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As the days become shorter and leaves begin to fall, the time comes for loved ones to gather around the dinner table and give thanks.
Some of those tables will be in the cafeteria at the Brown County High School, where the 40th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be served — for free — to all who want to join.
The past two years, the dinner has been served drive-thru style at Mother’s Cupboard Food Pantry because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Chris Henderson is a paramedic with Indiana University LifeLine and has been organizing this event with the community in mind for nearly two decades.
He said it was hard to not gather during the pandemic. As an organizer he said he would “float” between the kitchen and cafeteria when it met in person, and had missed mingling with guests during the meal.
He’s spent the last two years in the kitchen preparing food.
Now, looking forward to this holiday season, Henderson is glad to be gathering in person.
”It’s going to be good to see,” he said.
The Brown County EMT Association started the dinner 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.
On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, all are welcome to come to the high school for a hot meal, that includes turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans and a dinner roll.
There will also be fruit and pumpkin pie.
In addition to dining in the high school, meals will be delivered to Hawthorne Hills and Willow Manor Senior Apartments.
Those working in town on Thanksgiving — at places like Family Dollar, CVS Pharmacy, hotels without restaurants and also local law enforcement — will also have a hot meal delivered to them at their workplace, Henderson said.
Henderson said the volunteers usually prepare around 400 meals total, 200 of those are served in the dining room at the high school and 150 are delivered to homes. Another 60 will be taken to businesses.
Being back at the high school, people of all ages can volunteer.
In the dining room, kids can help seniors with drinks or carrying trays, Henderson said.
“Even young ones, I can put them to work. I just can’t have them in the kitchen.”
In the past, the dinner has been made possible by first responders, local hotels and Brown County Health and Living donating food items for the day.
This year due to a potential turkey shortage, Henderson said they are in need of monetary donations since they are purchasing them up front.
Shortages, he added, are attributed to many farmers losing their flocks because of the bird flu and the price of turkeys has gone up by 75% from years past.
The turkeys are purchased upfront so the volunteers can have ample time to source and prepare the meat before the event takes place, he said.
Donations are welcome both before and during 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.
The Thanksgiving Dinner is a community-focused event, where any and all can gather and mingle for the holiday.
Henderson emphasized that all in the community are welcome to the dinner, knowing that some may not share or even eat a meal on Thanksgiving Day.
For the seniors, he knows this is one of the last events of the year where they can get together and gather.
“If you want a free dinner, please come,” Henderson said.
”Seniors know this, but it’s for the family, it’s for the kids. This is here for you.”
Community Thanksgiving Dinner
The 40th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24 at Brown County High School, 235 Schoolhouse Lane.
Anyone needing deliveries can call COAD at 812-988-0001 before Nov. 21 to be put on the delivery list.
TRIAD will also be working on identifying individuals and families to serve. The dinner has also been advertised on flyers distributed throughout the community.
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.
