6th Annual People Loving People Thanksgiving Dinner

            The 6^th Annual People Loving People Thanksgiving Dinner planning is underway.  The free Thanksgiving Dinner is being planned once again this year to be served at the Joseph Rogers Primary School in Rogersville on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26^th, 2009.  In 2008 over 1500 meals consisting of over 2 tons of food were served or delivered throughout the upper East Tennessee area.  People Loving People is a non profit organization made up of an all volunteer staff who prepare, serve and deliver meals; clean and decorate the cafeteria; and clean up after the event.  Event organizer Dr. Blaine Jones is excited with anticipation for this, the sixth year for the meal to be served.  “Our free Thanksgiving Dinner has continued to grow and succeed over the years.  This has turned out to be one of the biggest blessings any of our volunteers have ever participated in.  God truly has his hand on this wonderful day and he blesses those who are in need and he blesses those of us who serve!”.  The dinner is a freshly prepared, made from scratch, traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner – turkey, ham, vegetables, rolls desserts and all the other essentials. 

Volunteers are needed to work in all areas of the event and anyone wishing to volunteer can come to one of the organizational meetings or call Cary Lewis Barton at 423-345-3743.  The first organizational meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, October 22^nd.  All meetings will start at 6pm and will be held at the Wellmont Hawkins County Memorial Hospital Cafeteria.  Other meetings are planned for Thursday, November 5^th and Thursday, November 19th.  “We specifically need volunteers at the end of the day to help us clean the kitchen and cafeteria area.  We would greatly welcome a church or civic group stepping up and taking this chore over for us!  Of course we need folks to prepare desserts and cornbread (for the home made dressing) before Thanksgiving Day.  We will need folks to help deliver the meals; serve in the dining hall and numerous other jobs.  We will put you to work and trust me, you will be blessed.”

            The dinner relies solely on contributions from individuals, families, businesses, companies and any other source to fund the event.  “We have consistently fed more people over the years and with the economy and unemployment as it is, we anticipate feeding more this year.  We need anyone and everyone to step forward and make a contribution to help us prepare for our 2009 dinner as soon as possible” Jones stated.  Donations may be sent to People Loving People, P.O. Box 91, Rogersville, TN  37857.  All donations are used strictly to purchase the food for the dinner.

            The dinner will be served to anyone who needs it.  Guests are invited to come to the Joseph Rogers Primary School Cafeteria to be served and pampered between the hours of 11am and 2pm on Thanksgiving Day.  “We want everyone who needs a meal or needs some company to join us on Thanksgiving Day.  No one needs to be alone or not have a meal on this special holiday.  We will of course be delivering meals to those who can not come to the meal and we can arrange transportation to and from the meal for those who need that. God has truly blessed me and my family and this Thanksgiving Dinner is to be a blessing to all who need it and all who work to make it happen.  We give God all the Glory for this wonderful day” Jones went on to say.  Those interested in attending the meal, receiving a delivered meal or arranging transportation to the meal are encouraged to contact Liz Woolridge at 423-272-2954 as this will give a better idea of how much food to prepare.  Plans are to distribute flyers throughout all Hawkins County schools so children and family can sign up through school.

            Other traditional Thanksgiving activities will be planned for the day with a big screen TV for football games; Christmas carolers; children’s activities and the like.  Please plan to attend or volunteer to work on this special day as it “will indeed be a day to give Thanks” according to Dr. Jones.

Menu

Turkey, Ham, Dressing, Rolls, Corn, Peas, Green Beans, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Mashed or Sweet Potatoes,

Dessert and Coffee or Tea