Betty Billmayer, one of the primary organizers of this year's Community Thanksgiving dinner in Chinook, wrote of last week's holiday gathering, "It was great but we couldn't have done it without all the good help. We had a great time." That seemed to sum up the reaction of the 115 diners who came to the senior center of the Thanksgiving meal at noon plus the 70 others who enjoyed carry-out meals. Other major organizers were Betty's husband, Mark, Kathy O'Brien, Jay Eslick and Larry Wisch. Wisch has served on the organizing committee since the inception of the event.

The annual event began sometime in the 1980's and has continued every year since. Providing a bit of context for this year's turnout, Larry Wisch said, "Early on we would serve about 200 in the center. We would fill the center's dining room twice to get everyone fed. The numbers have diminished a little but have stayed around 200, with the carry-outs, for the last few years." The dinner attracts locals as well as visitors who come to share Thanksgiving with locals who don't have space or energy to prepare a large meal.

The menu is what a family would typically have for Thanksgiving, but in copious amounts. Betty Billmayer provided a basic list of what it takes to feed nearly 200 holiday diners: seven turkeys; about 20 pies (provided by local cooks); five gallons of green beans; 24 packages of stuffing; two big pans of gravy and five gallons of yams. "Dorris Hamilton (who was instrumental in the early years of the event's success)," makes a pumpkin dessert for the take-outs that feeds about 40," Billmayer wrote. Add coffee, rolls, some cranberry sauce on each table and you have a traditional holiday meal.

The funding for the annual meal is all from donors-both in significant amounts throughout the year plus what is collected in a donation bucket by the door during the meal. No one is charged for their meal.

A critical part of the success of the meal is the volunteers who set up the dining room in the center, prepare and serve the meal and clean up after the holiday dinner. According to organizers about 15 people help on Wednesday, before the meal, and about 20 on Thanksgiving during the meal and until mid-afternoon for the clean-up.

The "Journal" thanks all the financial supporters and volunteers who make this annual holiday event possible. The only thing missing was the Macy's Day Parade or a football game playing on the TV in the background. Betty Billmayer said it well, "We had a great time."