Turkey dinner a longtime tradition
Published 12:00 am Friday, October 28, 2005
It is a community tradition, a fundraiser and a festive annual event all rolled into one.
The annual turkey dinner to benefit St. Joseph and St. Lawrence schools will be 1-5 p.m. Sunday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The annual event, organized by the support organization for the Catholic schools, raises money for necessities at both schools.
“If we didn't have fundraisers, we wouldn't be able to operate,” St. Joseph High School Development Director Sissy Clyse. “This is not just extra money, this is money we need.”
Clyse said anywhere from 1,700 to 2,000 dinners will be prepared Sunday. While the bulk of the dinners will be readied for take out, 500- 700 people will opt to dine at the church.
“Some people come to eat with their families, people from other churches often come as a group, some people come because they like to see the kids who are serving the dinners, some like the craft items and baked goods we have,” she said. “And a lot of people just enjoy seeing other people and talking to them. We call it ‘Fellowship Sunday.'”
For the week leading up to the dinner, the mood at the schools is “all-hands-on-deck”. St. Lawrence Elementary School children make the table decorations. Parents at both schools and other supporters volunteer their time to prepare the food. Those volunteers will also take shifts during the turkey dinner weekend to help set up the tables, serve the dinner and then clean up afterward. St. Joseph students will serve the dinners.
What does it take to feed 2,000 people? Clyse said 75 24-26-pound turkeys, 200 loaves of bread for dressing, 180 dozen rolls, 120 cakes and 96 5-pound cans of green beans will be dished up by 5 p.m. Sunday.
Clyse said if it sounds like a lot of work, it is. Still, it is time well spent.“We do it because we need to raise money and even though it is exhausting, we have fun doing it.”