Elks Plan Community Thanksgiving Dinner At Center Lake Pavilion, Volunteers Needed
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
This Thanksgiving will mark the 30th year the Elks Club has offered a free community Thanksgiving dinner.
This year's community dinner is on Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Center Lake Pavilion, 119 E. Canal St., Warsaw.
The dinner was started by Ray Compton, who owned Compton's Furniture Store on Center Street.
Alice Schooley, Warsaw, assisted Compton with the first dinner in 1980 when there were 139 people served.
Alice and her husband, Mike, prepared and cooked the turkeys and stuffing at their home and transported the food to the community center.
In following years, the Schooleys moved the operations to the American Legion, Warsaw, to cook the turkeys.
In the fifth year, Warsaw Elks got involved and added volunteers to take Thanksgiving dinners to shut-ins.
Teresa Evans and Robert Strand are the co-chairs for the dinner this year.
Evans and Strand stressed that the dinner is not only for people who cannot afford a meal, but is open to anyone.
Turkey, ham and fixings are purchased by funding provided to the Elks. Local businesses were sent letters requesting funds to pay for the dinner.
Tables will be set up at the pavilion for anyone in the community to sit and eat their Thanksgiving dinner. Carry-out and delivery also will be available.
Elks members and volunteers will cook turkey and ham Nov. 24 at American Legion Post 49, and it will be transported to Center Lake Pavilion to serve.
The menu will include turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, dressing, pies, rolls and beverages.
Volunteers are needed for serving, clean-up and delivery. To volunteer or to pre-order a Thanksgiving meal call the Elks Lodge at 574-267-7802. People can pre-order meals, now until Thanksgiving morning.
