Volunteers serve more than 500 meals at community dinner

Thursday was “go time” for many volunteers who met in First Presbyterian Church at Uhrichsville, where more than 500 meals were served at the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner from 11 to 2. More than 380 meals were carryout or delivered.

It was one of the last of such dinners in the area for this holiday, and watching volunteers orchestrate cooking and serve the full turkey dinner was exhilarating, an observer said.

Brian Stutz of Dover was among a multitude of individuals who put together the 18th annual event, and the teamwork in both the kitchen and the serving area was incredible. Volunteers came from all over the county and from any number of churches for the annual tradition.

“People come from Dover, New Philadelphia, Freeport, Scio and Newcomerstown to participate,” explained Rev. Mark Unrue, pastor of First Presbyterian Church. This year Mennonite and Amish volunteers joined in and provided dressing and asked to return next year.

Eighteen years ago when the first dinner was served to provide fellowship for anyone interested in attending, three turkeys were cooked, Unrue recalled. For Thursday’s feast, Foursquare Gospel Church of Dennison donated 30 turkeys and volunteers from Park Christian Church at Dennison cooked them. Other churches donated staples for the meal, including pie.

But one of the most rewarding aspects, Unrue said, is that when a volunteer sees someone from her own church enjoying the meal because he or she has no family to share the holiday with, that person is likely to be invited to a family gathering the following year.

The work of preparing the dinner is as rewarding for volunteers as the meal is for diners, Unrue said, and Thursday’s event was no exception.

“It’s brought people together,” he said.