Volunteers provide free holiday meals
Linda Sappington
Donations of pies, turkeys and time are abundant throughout Lake County on Thanksgiving Day, including at the Lake County Community Center.
Linda Sappington
C.J. and Lisa Brucker help prepare turkey at Mission Middle School.
Linda Sappington
Music at Polson Senior Center
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
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Chatter mingled with music on Thanksgiving Day as volunteers throughout the county made sure no one went home hungry.
Twenty-eight of the estimated 51 million turkeys eaten on Thanksgiving Day across America were roasted for Polson’s free annual event at the Polson Senior Center, where the salad table overflowed with offerings and the homemade pies just kept on coming.
LaSarha Burland said she came to the center alone but ended up surrounded by family, much like many others who attended to visit with neighbors or to make new friends.
A total of 549 meals were served, with a record number 228 of those meals delivered or packaged to go, according to organizer Tracy Plaiss.
“Our musicians were awesome. All of our volunteers were cheerful and worked very hard, and the community supported our efforts, yet again, with delicious donations,” Plaiss said. “We had a great Thanksgiving Dinner.”
A similar free meal was offered at the Lake County Community Center in Ronan, where 20 birds were cooked and more than 100 pounds of potatoes mashed, according to organizer Brandy Chisholm. Volunteers were plentiful, including a group of eight people that traveled 103 miles from Trout Creek to help. The youngest volunteer, 7-year-old Vivian Grainey, made sure the pie table was constantly replenished. Asked when she would get a chance to enjoy her Thanksgiving meal, she simply shrugged her shoulders and kept working.
A smaller-scale, first-time event was offered at Mission Middle School in St. Ignatius, where former Massachusetts residents C.J. and Lisa Brucker were busy mashing potatoes and cutting up eight donated turkeys. The couple moved to St. Ignatius in May.
“We just wanted to get involved with the community, and we wanted to give back,” C.J. said.
Organizer Kimimi Ashley guessed about 100 people might attend, and put the word out on Facebook. Volunteers just showed up to help, she said.
“It’s something that’s been on my heart for a couple of years,” Ashley said.
Various churches and senior centers throughout Lake County also offered meals and warm surroundings for groups to gather during Thanksgiving Day.
