Organizers of the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner are gearing up for another year and help is needed to prepare and serve meals.
The free event is set for 12:30 to 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day at First United Methodist Church, 212 E. Wabash Ave., Crawfordsville. Dine-in service will resume this year. An optional worship service begins at noon.
A goodwill offering or a donation of non-perishable food is accepted. Music will be performed by Don Baker.
Last year, volunteers served about 1,100 meals in a year when the coronavirus pandemic increased the need and disrupted some families’ holiday plans. The crew hopes to dish out at least as many meals this year.
Takeout and delivery is available by registration only. Call Andrea Posthauer at 765-366-5415 no later than Nov. 22 to sign up.
So many people showed up without pre-registering last year that organizers ran out of extra food and had to turn some people away, said Andrea Posthauer, a volunteer who is assisting with the preparations.
“It was a hard pill for us to swallow,” Posthauer said.
The annual tradition is chaired by Mark and Sheila Zachary, who oversee a team of volunteers who help prepare, serve and deliver meals. About 60 volunteers are needed for the entire operation and some of them are regulars.
“You just basically stand out of the way and watch them,” Posthauer said. “It’s wonderful.”
To sign up as a volunteer or to donate food, call Sheila at 765-376-4365 or Mark at 765-376-9264. Monetary donations can be sent to P.O. Box 23, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.
