All are welcome at Thanksgiving community meal
Gunnison Country Times
November 14, 2024
Mariel Wiley | Times Photo Editor
(Photo courtesy Jodi Payne/Gunnison Country Food Pantry)
Two weeks from now, many Americans will pause their work and school routines to spend a few days with family and friends over Thanksgiving. But the holiday can be emotionally taxing for those who are unable to spend the day with loved ones. In Gunnison, the onset of winter and the town’s rural location can make outbound travel difficult, leaving some without anyone to share a Thanksgiving turkey with.
For the second year in a row, the Gunnison Country Food Pantry will host a community Thanksgiving meal at the Fred Field Center on Nov. 28. Any and all who are craving a sense of connection during the holiday are encouraged to attend, regardless of individual food security needs. No registration or RSVP is required.
“From working at the food pantry, I’m aware of a lot of need for food,” said Executive Director Jodi Payne. “But when you think about the aging population in Gunnison, or the college students who are alone, we just started to wonder, ‘Is there more of a need beyond food?’”
Gunnison County Library Technician Janet Cox approached Payne with the idea for a community feast two years ago. At the time, Cox had been dreaming of arranging an event like this for years, but had been waiting for the right time and partners to make it happen.
The food pantry serves as the main sponsor for the event, supported by other local businesses and faith groups. The event is staffed by volunteers, with Gunnison chef Jeff Boril taking up the helm in the kitchen. Boril owned the Palisades Restaurant from 2007 to 2018, and has decades of experience as a banquet chef. Boril and his helpers will start prep on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, preparing mashed potatoes, dinner rolls and salads before popping the turkeys into the oven for their long roast.
Last year, the crew fed just over 180 attendees. This year, the cooks are preparing for a crowd of up to 350. The feast will run from noon until 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, with food served on a first come, first served basis. Fuerza Cora Brasil Musical and Chris Cody will perform live music while people dine.
The food pantry will also collect donations for their “Spice up the Holidays” food drive event. Spices, including salt, pepper, garlic and onion, are a commonly-requested commodity at the food pantry, and are an integral part of creating the homey flavor that holiday meals are known for, Payne said.
For the first time this year, the organizers will send out home deliveries to a pre-determined list of elderly or disabled residents who were unable to attend the event. Payne and Cox hope to expand this service in coming years. Another new feature this year is the “Welcoming Committee,” a group of volunteers tasked specifically with greeting every attendee and ensuring that nobody dines alone. Those who speak more than one language are especially encouraged to sign up for this role, so that everyone can be greeted in their “heart language,” Cox said.
“Attending a community meal is one of the most special things to be a part of,” Payne said. “It’s an acknowledgement of your home and your neighbors. The holidays can be hard for folks without families, and I think this reinforces that you can choose your family. There are people that care about you here.”
For more information on the event and to access the volunteer sign up sheet, visit gunnisoncountryfoodpantry.org.
(Mariel Wiley can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or mariel@gunnisontimes.com.)
