News - pcgazette.com

News

Groups offer Thanksgiving meals

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Thanksgiving dinners will be available to Portage County area residents at two locations if they are needy or just want companionship on Thursday, Nov. 28. Both dinners are free of charge, although good-will offerings will be accepted.

The 19th Annual Plover Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at St. Bronislava Catholic Church in Plover, and the Moose Lodge will sponsor its annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Moose Family Center, 1025 Second St. N., Stevens Point.

Meals at St. Bronislava will be served in the dining hall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include turkey, ham, beef, potatoes, vegetables, salads, breads, relishes, pies and other desserts.

The dinner is sponsored by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, St. Bronislava, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church and Plover United Methodist Church and receives help from members of other area churches and organizations.

The meal at the Moose Family Center will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will consist of turkey, potatoes, stuffing, yams or squash and the fixings. The dinner is a community service of the Moose Lodge. For reservations, deliveries or to volunteer, call the center at 344-3224.

John Nornberg, a member of the Community Thanksgiving Committee, said "things are going real well, primarily due to the fact that we have a repeat performance from all the people who have been on the board in the past."

That committee consists of Doug Warner, Mary Wright, Patty Vredeveld, Jan Flatoff, Christine Keck, Lee Ragalla, Nornberg, his wife Elise and their daughter Kelly.

With the event going into its 19th year, Nornberg said everyone knows what to do. "We have meetings, but we have faith in one another and everyone goes about doing their job to get ready.

"We're looking for another good turnout, we hope to get about 600 people in the church and with the deliveries," he said.

Nornberg credits Warner with much of the success for the dinner. "Doug Warner is carrying a pretty big load. He's been the rock on the staff. He oversees everything. He's the leader and we all follow."

To feed a group as large as it does, the committee needs more help than just its members and is always looking for volunteers.

"We want to give all volunteers a feeling of what this is all about," Nornberg said. "I really feel wonderful when all this happens. It's a wonderful, wonderful feeling. You get such an outpouring of excitement. We enjoy it and want to get others involved in it."

The dinner relies on the community to bring pies, other desserts, sweet breads, Jello, salads and fruit. Food items should be brought in nonreturnable containers on Thursday to the kitchen at St. Bronislava by 10:30 a.m. For those unable to bring items on Thursday, they may be brought in between 8 a.m. and noon Wednesday, but refrigerated space is limited, so refrigerated items are preferred on Thursday.

Nornberg said on Monday the committee will pick up the turkeys and on Tuesday will start preparing them and then on Wednesday will do the other things in preparation for Thursday's meal.

At least 10 volunteers are needed on Wednesday to help prepare the food and clean up in the kitchen. Those who are willing should contact Doug Warner at 344-8129.

On Thanksgiving Day, volunteers are needed to set up, serve and clean up. They are also invited to share a meal and visit with guests. Those interested should contact Mary Wright at 341-5655 to sign up for a scheduled shift and task.

Drivers are also needed to bring people to the dinner, take them home and deliver meals to shut-ins between 11 a.m. and noon. Call Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 341-6122.

Donations to purchase turkeys, ham, beef, beverages, paper products and other items are also appreciated. Donations, indicating they are for the Thanksgiving Dinner, should be sent to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2000 Roosevelt Drive, Plover, WI 54467.

Mark Wanta, lodge administrator for the Moose, said Moose Lodge members and other volunteers will deliver meals within a 20-mile radius of Stevens Point. Reservations need to be made for deliveries, he said.

He asked individuals interested in coming to call to reserve a place and help the lodge out in making sure there is enough food.

Attendance varies from 350 to about 420, he said, although one year more than 500 were fed.

Vic Schultz, governor of the lodge, said efforts at the lodge have been coming along well and it appears plenty of Moose members have signed up to help. "We have people sign up for drivers, servers, dishwashers, you name it."

He said preparations for the meal begin in earnest on Tuesday, when the cooking starts.

The lodge had a tune-up for a big meal recently, he said, serving more than 500 people at a pork fest.



	Groups offer Thanksgiving meals By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette Thanksgiving dinners will be available to Portage County area residents at two locations if they are needy or just want companionship on Thursday, Nov. 28. Both dinners are free of charge, although good-will offerings will be accepted. The 19th Annual Plover Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at St. Bronislava Catholic Church in Plover, and the Moose Lodge will sponsor its annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Moose Family Center, 1025 Second St. N., Stevens Point. Meals at St. Bronislava will be served in the dining hall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include turkey, ham, beef, potatoes, vegetables, salads, breads, relishes, pies and other desserts. The dinner is sponsored by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, St. Bronislava, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church and Plover United Methodist Church and receives help from members of other area churches and organizations. The meal at the Moose Family Center will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will consist of turkey, potatoes, stuffing, yams or squash and the fixings. The dinner is a community service of the Moose Lodge. For reservations, deliveries or to volunteer, call the center at 344-3224. John Nornberg, a member of the Community Thanksgiving Committee, said "things are going real well, primarily due to the fact that we have a repeat performance from all the people who have been on the board in the past." That committee consists of Doug Warner, Mary Wright, Patty Vredeveld, Jan Flatoff, Christine Keck, Lee Ragalla, Nornberg, his wife Elise and their daughter Kelly. With the event going into its 19th year, Nornberg said everyone knows what to do. "We have meetings, but we have faith in one another and everyone goes about doing their job to get ready. "We're looking for another good turnout, we hope to get about 600 people in the church and with the deliveries," he said. Nornberg credits Warner with much of the success for the dinner. "Doug Warner is carrying a pretty big load. He's been the rock on the staff. He oversees everything. He's the leader and we all follow." To feed a group as large as it does, the committee needs more help than just its members and is always looking for volunteers. "We want to give all volunteers a feeling of what this is all about," Nornberg said. "I really feel wonderful when all this happens. It's a wonderful, wonderful feeling. You get such an outpouring of excitement. We enjoy it and want to get others involved in it." The dinner relies on the community to bring pies, other desserts, sweet breads, Jello, salads and fruit. Food items should be brought in nonreturnable containers on Thursday to the kitchen at St. Bronislava by 10:30 a.m. For those unable to bring items on Thursday, they may be brought in between 8 a.m. and noon Wednesday, but refrigerated space is limited, so refrigerated items are preferred on Thursday. Nornberg said on Monday the committee will pick up the turkeys and on Tuesday will start preparing them and then on Wednesday will do the other things in preparation for Thursday's meal. At least 10 volunteers are needed on Wednesday to help prepare the food and clean up in the kitchen. Those who are willing should contact Doug Warner at 344-8129. On Thanksgiving Day, volunteers are needed to set up, serve and clean up. They are also invited to share a meal and visit with guests. Those interested should contact Mary Wright at 341-5655 to sign up for a scheduled shift and task. Drivers are also needed to bring people to the dinner, take them home and deliver meals to shut-ins between 11 a.m. and noon. Call Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 341-6122. Donations to purchase turkeys, ham, beef, beverages, paper products and other items are also appreciated. Donations, indicating they are for the Thanksgiving Dinner, should be sent to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2000 Roosevelt Drive, Plover, WI 54467. Mark Wanta, lodge administrator for the Moose, said Moose Lodge members and other volunteers will deliver meals within a 20-mile radius of Stevens Point. Reservations need to be made for deliveries, he said. He asked individuals interested in coming to call to reserve a place and help the lodge out in making sure there is enough food. Attendance varies from 350 to about 420, he said, although one year more than 500 were fed. Vic Schultz, governor of the lodge, said efforts at the lodge have been coming along well and it appears plenty of Moose members have signed up to help. "We have people sign up for drivers, servers, dishwashers, you name it." He said preparations for the meal begin in earnest on Tuesday, when the cooking starts. The lodge had a tune-up for a big meal recently, he said, serving more than 500 people at a pork fest.