Committee expresses thankfulness

To the editor:

What a wonderful day.

It was Thanksgiving Day.

The planning, advertising and brainstorming were finished and now we were ready to put the final touches on our traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The to-do list was taped to the wall, the pans of turkey were made ready for the ovens and large batches of dressing were being made to serve hundreds of meals throughout the day.

It was time for the first shift of volunteers to arrive to get all the supplies out of storage and begin compiling the food and drinks. The cold food and plasticware containing a heartfelt prayer were inserted into sacks that would accompany the hot food when it was time for delivery to the homebound folks.

As more volunteers arrived, the next phase began for counting hot food trays and adding turkey, dressing and green beans to the containers. The trays were sealed with the noisy fun, aggression-relieving “slammer.” 

Through a lot of happy chatter the assembly line moved things along smoothly and the folks at the end delivered the food to the next room. That room had others busy preparing the routes for 13 drivers volunteering to deliver the Thanksgiving dinner around the county.

Meanwhile, many individuals walked in the door bringing vegetables, salads and desserts to be shared with those dining in later in the day. Then they headed back to their homes to finish preparations on their own family dinner with hearts warmed from a deed well done.

Many others came in to help slice pies and cakes and get the tables prepared. Thermoses of coffee and cold beverages were waiting for early arriving diners to enjoy while playing games or visiting.

The room looked inviting and it was heartwarming watching families join each other and share together. It had been a year since many of them had seen each other and there was much to enjoy.

Our favorite Jay County resident clowns, Buttnz and Bowz, were dressed in their spiffy bright, fun outfits and they excited both young and old alike with all of their colorful balloon animals. Everyone watched in amazement as they pulled, twisted, tugged and turned the balloons creating many characters without bursting a single one. Many wore them on their wrists, shoulders or even heads, and it really didn’t matter if they looked a little silly. It was

Thanksgiving after all and they  were having fun.

It was a very blessed day. More than 575 meals touched folks’ hearts that had been warmed by the delicious meal. The homebound received guests at their door, something they yearn for throughout the year. Those dining in felt the warmth and love surrounding the room. Thirty-five lucky ones received a door prize to give them additional assistance at a grocery, pharmacy or restaurant. And the committee members’ hearts were touched by all the volunteers throughout the community.

It all began in early November with schools, service clubs, churches, businesses, sororities and individuals donating large amounts of cash or services to furnish the traditional feast. And it continued throughout Thanksgiving Day with families and individuals giving of their time and themselves to help their friends and neighbors.

This community is truly surrounded by giving people with compassionate hearts.

Thank you each and every one for all the ways you showed you care and for giving all in Jay County a reason to know they matter.

With a heart full of thanks,

Carol Smith

For the Community Thanksgiving Committee