McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

November 23, 2007

Almost 3,000 Thanksgiving dinners served

By James Beaty

Volunteers fed approximately 2,800 people on Thursday through the Pittsburg County Community Thanksgiving Dinner, said one of the organizers of the event.

This year also saw a number of new volunteers assisting with the project for the first time, said Pittsburg County Assessor Jim Kelley.

“We had a lot of new faces,” Kelley said. “We had a lot of new faces delivering. They came in and washed pots and pans. Whatever we needed, they did it.”

Most of the meals served were either picked up in carry-out boxes by those who preferred to eat at home or were delivered to those unable to make it to the George Nigh National Guard Armory, when the meals were prepared.

Despite cooking 12 more turkeys than last year, servers still ran out before all the meals were dished out, something which also occurred in 2006. Those planning the dinner had purchased 10 more turkeys than the 70 they had prepared last year, plus two more were donated, for a total of 82.

Even though a few people who were served toward the end didn’t get any turkey, they didn’t go away hungry, Kelley said.

“They had a plate full of food,” he said.

Those preparing the meal ran into a few snags early on, when four cookers stopped working. Kelley said individuals stepped up and brought new cookers to replace the old ones.

Another problem occurred when the huge refrigerator at the armory ceased working, Kelley said. When a potential replacement refrigerator didn’t work, Stanton Jones, of Hiland Gilt-Edge, loaned the use of a refrigerated truck, according to Kelley.

Volunteers had all the meals served, the armory cleaned and were finished by around 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

Despite the few glitches, Kelley termed this year’s dinner a huge success.

Not only the recipients, but the volunteers, seemed to enjoy the event, he said.

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