Think of it as a Thanksgiving primer of sorts, blended with a community fundraiser and then add a dash of family reunion to it.

That is essentially what you get at the Ironton Catholic schools annual turkey dinner set for this Sunday.

The annual turkey dinner, sponsored by the Ironton Catholic Schools Support Organization, is 1-5 p.m. Sunday in the St. Joseph Church undercroft. The cost of the dinner is $7 for adults and $5 for children.

The event is a massive undertaking that requires lots of volunteers and hard work to prepare as many as 2,000 dinners. The funds raised go a long way toward helping support the private school system and its students.

Without events like this and the community embracing them, it would be very difficult for the Ironton Catholic Schools to operate. And regardless of your religious denomination, it is important that the community has as many options as possible — public and private — for education.

We applaud all the staff, teachers, parents, children and other volunteers who make this happen. For their efforts, we want to recognize them with this week’s “Good News, Good Neighbors” spotlight.

One of southern Ohio’s greatest strengths — one that truly extends to the entire Tri-State — is the common bonds that help drive the community forward.