Community Thanksgiving Dinner Includes Door Prizes and a Great Meal
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The Community Thanksgiving dinner is just around the corner and organizers have a few ideas to help make the gathering even better. The dinner held annually in Chinook has seen a number of changes through the years and has always been remarkable in its ability to adapt and serve the community. The dinner has been a staple in the Chinook community since the 1980’s, although no one is truly certain about the first time it was held.
Jay Eslick, an organizer of the annual event, shared his thoughts regarding this year’s dinner, “We want to encourage in-house dining, we’ve had a drop off in that number the last few years and I know Covid had a lot to do with that. We have had about 70 in-house diners the past few years when we used to have more than 100. Our take out numbers have been really good, so overall our totals have been better.” Eslick added, “To help encourage in-house dining this year we plan to have some door prizes for those dining in.”
The dinner is able to continue year to year with a free will donation at the dinner itself. A significant amount of private donations along the way also help fund the event. Countless volunteers have helped maintain the dinner through the years. Betty and Mark Billmayer headed up their first Chinook Community Thanksgiving Dinner in 2016 and are back to head the annual holiday dinner this year.
The Community Thanksgiving Dinners in Chinook have overcome several obstacles - inclement weather, volunteers, funds, but in the end enough help was always secured, enough food was always made, and the community got together for a good time each Thanksgiving. In 2020, the Covid-19 Pandemic caused quite a stir. The Traditional Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner was replaced with a Ham Dinner with all the trimmings. The operation was relocated to the Blaine County Fairground Commercial Building and meals were limited to delivery or pickup only.
The Community Dinner was back at the Blaine County Commercial Building and has hosted the dinner since, and will be there again this year. A traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the trimmings will be served with all the fixings.
Deliveries will start at 11:30 a.m. Thanksgiving day. Those wishing to dine-in can stop by the Commercial Building between 12:00 and 1:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend and there is no charge. A freewill collection will be on site for those who would like to help cover expenses.
Volunteers are always welcome to help in the kitchen or with deliveries. “The day before, Wednesday, we’ll set up and get some things ready starting at about 9:00 a.m. Thanksgiving day we’ll be there by 7:00 a.m. to finish up, do deliveries, serve and clean up,” stated Eslick. “No help will be turned away, so if you decide late that you want to help, stop by!”
To sign up for deliveries, call the senior center at 357-2648, or Kathy O’Brien at 357-2937 or fill out a meal request form that can be picked up at Finley’s Food Farm, Chinook Pharmacy, First Bank of Montana, the Senior Center, Eagles or in the Blaine County Journal Newspaper.
