Thanksgiving preparations started early in Ronan
Linda Sappington
The Ronan community enjoys the fruits of volunteer labor at Thursday’s Thanksgiving meal.
Karen Peterson
Colin McGuyer, Ally Buhr and Brooklyn Kenelty peel potatoes the night before Thanksgiving in Ronan.
Linda Sappington
A variety of pies await hungry mouths at Ronan’s Community Dinner on Thanksgiving Day, but the traditional pumpkin pie takes the cake.
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
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RONAN – Volunteers were busy peeling potatoes the night before Thanksgiving at the Ronan Community Center in preparation for the community dinner.
“I really like helping the community,” said Ally Buhr, volunteer and Ronan High School senior as she helped peel hundreds of potatoes. She worked alongside RHS senior Collin McGuyer, RHS freshman Brooklyn Kenelty, and sixth-grader James Kenelty, plus other volunteers.
The group peeled and chopped 150 pounds of large potatoes to soften them up in buckets of water overnight so they were ready to boil and mash the next day.
The prep work is done the night before to ensure that food is ready for people filtering through the doors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Twenty- four turkeys, trays of mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, casseroles, bread, pies, and other dishes were all set out.
“This serves a need in the community,” said Jamie Buhr, Ronan Chamber of Commerce member. “Some people don’t have a place to go (for a holiday meal) and others just want to hang out and socialize. This has become a social event and we have tons of community support.”
Brandy Chisholm organized the event, which is sponsored by the Ronan Chamber of Commerce.
She said this is the 13th year for the community dinner. “We have volunteers coming out of the woodwork to help with this,” she said. “It couldn’t be done without the volunteers. It’s a huge community effort.”
Each year, the event grows.
“We had about 250 people come in with another 100-plus togo boxes sent out,” she said of the dinner last year. About 300 people attended the dinner this year
