Annual tradition at Sacred Heart Gym once again set for
Thanksgiving
The arrival of the holiday season brings the return of the
annual Marley Holte Holiday Dinners, which for a quarter-century
have offered locals a chance to share a meal and some fellowship on
Thanksgiving and Christmas day.
As preparations for the Thanksgiving meal continue, organizers
say volunteers are needed to help set up, prepare, serve and clean
up at the event, held at the O’Reilly Youth Hall at Sacred Heart
School on College Street.
Annual tradition at Sacred Heart Gym once again set for Thanksgiving
The arrival of the holiday season brings the return of the annual Marley Holte Holiday Dinners, which for a quarter-century have offered locals a chance to share a meal and some fellowship on Thanksgiving and Christmas day.
As preparations for the Thanksgiving meal continue, organizers say volunteers are needed to help set up, prepare, serve and clean up at the event, held at the O’Reilly Youth Hall at Sacred Heart School on College Street.
Thirty-two turkeys will be prepared next week for a meal expected to draw up to 500 people between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
“We’re looking at more people because the economy is down, but it is also a great way to meet friends,” said longtime volunteer organizer Larry Brown.
Mashed potatoes, cranberries and mixed vegetables are among the side dishes that will accompany the turkey feast that is served at no cost to all guests by more than 100 volunteers.
“We still need volunteers to help set up and prep turkeys on Wednesday evening and wash dishes and clean up on Thanksgiving,” Brown said, noting that donations – particularly monetary, are welcomed. “Donations are still coming in. We can do more at this point with cash.”
The Holte Holiday Dinners began in 1985, when educator, businessman and politician Marley Holte, and his wife, decided to pool their holiday money and feed the needy rather than buy gifts for each other. The Marley Holte Community Assistance Program began providing meals during Christmas time and later expanded to offer the Thanksgiving spread.
Numerous individuals and families have since made volunteering at the meal a tradition.
“There are families that come in just to make the dressing and another one makes a rue,” Brown said, adding that a number of students use the dinners as an opportunity to perform community service.
For more information on the Holte Holiday Dinners, and in particular to volunteer for the Thanksgiving meal event next week, call Brown at (831) 637-9037.
