ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DAY FEAST TRADITION FOR CHURCH
Wednesday, November 21st, 2007 -- 11:50 AM
While most people will be relaxing with their families Thursday, an area church will be making sure no one has to go without a Thanksgiving meal.Kathy Brugger helps organize the Neillsville United Methodist Church Thanksgiving Dinner, which will be held Thursday at noon.
"We provide a community dinner for anyone that's alone or doesn't have a place to go for Thanksgiving," Brugger says.
This is the 16th annual dinner.
"It started out as a small dinner with probably 60 or 80 people. The last two years, we've grown to the size of 165 dinners being served," Brugger notes.
The church prepares a traditional Turkey Day meal with all the trimmings. Before the end of the day Thursday, they'll probably go through about nine 20 lbs. turkeys and 25 pumpkin pies.
And if you've prepared a Thanksgiving meal, you know it takes a lot of preparation.
Volunteers will spend Wednesday preparing. Some of the items must be prepared the day of the event. "We'll have a crew that will be in early on Thursday morning?probably 7 o'clock that will peel the potatoes and do the things that have to be done the same day as the dinner."
"There's a lot of work that goes into it, but it's a good time for those that are helping," Brugger says.
It's a bit of a sacrifice, but people really appreciate the effort.
"I have people asking me as soon as the first leaves start to fall if we're going to do the dinner again this year. It's just a good feeling that we're doing something those people don't have to be alone at that time."
If you need a ride, would like delivery or would like to help, call 743-2556.
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