Putting the meals together at the Salem Grace Church of the Nazarene. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Both the Grace Church of the Nazarene in Salem and the Poplar Place in Centralia exceeded their planned maximum number of dinners they planned to serve on Thanksgiving Day.
The Grace Church of the Nazarene finished at 500 dinners as extra food was donated to meet the need and top the original maximum of 425 dinners. The organizer of the event, Tammy Foltz, says about 30 volunteers worked together to cook, package and deliver the meals.
“Three kitchens going. Then we had an assembly line. The kitchens we’re mainly trying to keep things warm, but we’re also cooking the mashed potatoes as we go. The turkeys and hams people delivered to us last night. We’re just cutting them up, deboning them, and heating them up.”
And why does she think the requests for meals were so much greater this year?
“Partly the economy and families are not gathering and it’s difficult to make food for two people.”
At the Poplar Place in Centralia, the story was similar. After cutting off requests for meals at 800, extra food allowed for those on a waiting list to be served as well as the number of meals reached 857. About 30 volunteers also worked in Centralia with food donated by a number of people in the community.
Making the mashed potatoes for the Thanksgiving Dinners at Grace Church of the Nazarene in Salem. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Meals stacked up ready for delivery at the Poplar Place. Photo by Christy Kudar
Thanksgiving dinners are prepared at the Poplar Place in Centralia. Photo by Christy Kudar.
