'More of a need this year'
Community Thanksgiving dinner draws a good crowd
The Moose Lodge's annual community Thanksgiving dinner is more than a meal.
Back
It's an opportunity for families to work together, helping to serve others who may not be as fortunate. And for those who otherwise would have been alone on the holiday or couldn't afford such a feast, the free meal provides a sense of community.
On Thursday, more than 300 meals were served, including about 180 deliveries to those who couldn't make it to the Moose Lodge. Sue Albertson's mother-in-law, the late Dorothy Albertson, started the dinner 32 years ago.
Megan (left) and Zack Tschida served Thanksgiving dinner to Judy Braman on Thursday at the Moose Lodge. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Albertson said it was a record turnout for the event, which almost didn't happen this year due to a lack of funds.
A couple weeks ago, the Moose Lodge went to the public and asked for donations for up to $2,000 to host the dinner. Within days more than $2,500 was raised from the community. Albertson said they usually need about 50 volunteers, but this year organizers found themselves having to turn away volunteers because there were so many. She said they received more than 100 calls from people interested in volunteering and they enlisted about 75 of them to help out.
"It's kind of overwhelming," Albertson said of the community support and the large number of people who turned out on Thursday for the dinner. "I think there's more of a need this year."
Monica Patton (left), Kristin Rajala and John Nielsen created an assembly line to dish up Thanksgiving meals for patrons at the annual community dinner Thursday at the Moose Lodge. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Pat Betcher, owner of Kelly's Restaurant, who volunteered to organize and cook the meal, had to run to a local grocery store to buy more stuffing because they ran out. They served about 125 people in the first hour, which is usually the most they serve during the entire two-hour dinner. Betcher said the 180 pounds of turkey was nearly gone, too, a half-hour before the dinner ended as delivery orders continued to come.
"We've never run out of food like this," Albertson said.
This was Betcher's first year helping with the Moose Lodge's dinner. He often volunteers at the soup kitchen. One of his customers has offered to purchase the New Year's Eve meal at the Soup Kitchen and Betcher plans to cook that, too. It's his way of giving back, he said.
Sydney Negri, 6, carried a plate of food at the annual Thanksgiving community dinner Thursday at the Moose Lodge, as did Reece Isle, 5, who was being helped by his aunt, Aubrey Koman. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
"This is just good self-satisfaction," Betcher said of volunteering. "I figure one day I might be standing in line at the soup kitchen. Everyone should do something like this."
The mood was festive Thursday as those who dined listened to the musical stylings of Harold Herboldt, who strolled around the tables playing the accordion.
Randy Thoennes of Brainerd volunteered to serve guests at Thursday's dinner, along with his children.
"It's a great way to give back to the community because we're so blessed," Thoennes said. "It just makes me feel good to give back, to see all the smiling faces."
Virginia Ward, Brainerd, and her friend, Jo Lemond, also of Brainerd, enjoyed the dinner together. Both said they enjoy socializing at the community Thanksgiving dinner. Ward said she was happy to hear that the dinner wasn't canceled after all.
"We always say when times get tough people come together," Ward said.
Karen Schuh was eating dinner with her adult son, Ben, Thursday. She said Ben had heard about the dinner the day before and they decided to go together.
"I think this is wonderful," Schuh said. "My funds are very limited. I would have been home having a TV dinner, which would have been a pretty bleak deal. It's been a Godsend for us. It's really nice. He does take care of us, doesn't he?"
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.