About 450 attend community feast

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Press Photo by Beth Wischmeyer About 450 people went to the Dickinson Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Trinity High School Thursday.

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The smells of ham, turkey and all the trimmings wafted through the halls of Trinity High School Thursday as community volunteers served enough food for about 450 people.

Organizers say 36 turkeys were cooked, along with about 110 pounds of ham.

The menu also included mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, stuffing, corn, coleslaw, cranberries, buns and pie.

“We’ve gotten lots of good compliments (about the food),” said LaVonne Ficek, a volunteer.

About 75 volunteers helped with the dinner, from setting up Wednesday evening to those who washed dishes after attendees finished their meals, said committee volunteer Janet Johanson.

“Everyone was welcomed, especially those that didn’t have a place to go for Thanksgiving,” Johanson said. “Everybody seems happy and enjoyed the meal.”

Some who come make it tradition to come eat at the community Thanksgiving meal.

“Everything was great,” said Michelle Hanson of Dickinson. “I really enjoy the turkey mixed in with everything else.”

Hanson, who went with her mom Sandy, said the two helped hand out pie at the event.

“It’s kind of become a tradition for us, we’ve been coming for about four years I think,” she said.

Suvd-Erdene, a Dickinson State University student from Mongolia, said she enjoyed the turkey at the meal and was glad to have a place to go to eat Thanksgiving dinner, which is also Mongolia’s Independence Day.

Johanson estimated about 200 meals were delivered to those who couldn’t make it out of their homes, while about 250 meals were served at Trinity.

Members of the DSU men’s basketball team helped dish up and package meals to be delivered, she added.

Community members have volunteered through many facets, from donating their time to donating food, including more than 100 pies which were baked by high school students and members of a church in Lefor.

Students from both Trinity elementaries decorated placemats.

“There has been unbelievable support from the community. We never have trouble getting volunteers,” said Ed Wanner, a long-time volunteer.

The volunteers said while the meal is free, some attendees offer money as a donation, including those who get their meals delivered. The donations help the group purchase items for the next year’s meal.

Organizers said anyone who wishes to donate to next year’s feast can send monetary donations to: Dickinson Community Thanksgiving Dinner, P.O. Box 604, Dickinson, ND 58602.

Tags: news, local, community, thanksgiving, dinner, ed, wanner, lefor, suvd-erdene, mongolia