Join in to gather, gobble and giggle

To the editor:

It is nearly time to gather, gobble and giggle at the 35th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The committee has been meeting since mid-October, planning and brainstorming to make this year’s dinner the best ever. We are excited to welcome everyone in the community to our traditional 1 p.m. dinner. Our committee, guided by Carol Smith’s leadership, is privileged to share this traditional holiday turkey dinner with family, friends and neighbors.

Plan now to join us at Asbury U.M. Church Fellowship Hall. A great cross section of people attend this annual event for the fun, fellowship and the delicious food it offers. We look forward to tables filled with adults and children of all ages, bustling with laughter and conversation and sharing tasty and delectable dishes in an atmosphere of fellowship and true thanksgiving. Come one, come all! We’ll make sure you get a seat, a full tummy and a great celebration.

In addition to the meal and the opportunity to gather with others, there will once again be a variety of games, door prizes and gift certificates to various local businesses. Our hope is to provide a bit of enjoyment and give the home budget some relief even after the holiday is over.

As always, we are looking forward to including the homebound in this holiday tradition by furnishing a meal. If you are homebound, we will have drivers standing by who are anxious to deliver a meal to your home. Please call Asbury United Methodist Church at (260) 726-8464 or Zion Lutheran Church at (260) 726-8832 (mornings) with your request. Requests for meals must be called in by Wednesday at noon, the day before Thanksgiving, so that we are adequately prepared.

We have a special request for the cooks among us. Even if you have your own holiday tradition with family but would be willing to lend a hand, please help by making an extra dish (in a disposable pan) and drop it off at Asbury on Wednesday afternoon or on Thanksgiving Day morning. Any dish is appreciated, but vegetables and side dishes are especially enjoyed. Together, you will help us create a virtual smorgasbord of goodies.

If you want to spend an hour or two assisting on Thanksgiving Day, feel free to contact our chairperson, Carol Smith, at (260) 726-9049. She will happily schedule you and put you to work.

As Carol said several years ago, we are lovingly serving up “thankfulness and hope.” We invite you and your family to be part of this fun day. The welcome mat is out to our entire community.

We hope your family shares a joyous and peace-filled holiday. We hope to see you there!

Dolphus Stephens

Community Thanksgiving Dinner Committee