Last year, the dinner entered the digital age with volunteer sign-ups through a website – SignUpGenius. If you can help, visit http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054baca6283-stillwater.
Volunteers can sign up for a food item to bring or times to work including cooking, decorating, serving and cleaning. If you don’t use a computer, then call Dorr at 405-624-8689 and leave a message regarding what time you would like to work or what items you would like to contribute. Email him at pat.dorr@gmail.com.
“SignupGenius really worked well for us last year so we’d like everyone to try to use it again,” Dorr said.
Volunteers may work in 1 1/2 hour shifts on Thanksgiving Day. The shifts are:
• 7:30-9 a.m. - Kitchen which includes cooking and washing
• 9-10:30 a.m. - Decorating and kitchen
• 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Serving and kitchen
• 12-1:30 p.m. - Serving and kitchen
• 1:30-3 p.m. - Serving and cleanup.
Dorr suggested the 9-10:30 a.m. shift for young children who can decorate by coloring the tables.
He said women from the Church of Christ have provided cakes over all the years, but if you have a special cake you would like to bake then volunteer to bring your specialty and it will either be eaten on Thanksgiving Day or given to a home-bound guest in their meal delivery.
Monetary donations to buy the turkey breasts, potatoes, green beans, drinks and decorations are needed. Checks should be made out to the Community Dinner – First Presbyterian Church and mailed to: c/o Pat Dorr, 101 W. Georgia Ave., Stillwater, OK 74075.
“All volunteers are encouraged to visit and eat. We emphasize it as a day of community for all like the original Thanksgiving,” Dorr said.
Many Stillwater families choose to spend Thanksgiving celebrating with others. Last year, more than 900 meals were served. There is no sponsoring organization for the dinner, just a group of citizens from the community coming together for a joyous celebration. The project continues its goal of serving those in need a Thanksgiving dinner but also to celebrate area volunteers as a community like the Pilgrim and Native American tradition. Through the years, Oklahoma State University students who can’t make it home and international students learning about American traditions often enjoy spending Thanksgiving day at the community meal.
The dinner features turkey, ham, gravy and dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, fruit and gelatin salads, desserts of pies, cakes and cookies with coffee and punch served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dorr said so many in the community come back to dine every year he considers them part of his extended family.
