Thursday’s holiday might conjure up images of the family
gathered around the turkey at the dinner table, but for many San
Benito County residents, the day is about giving back to the
community.
Thursday’s holiday might conjure up images of the family gathered around the turkey at the dinner table, but for many San Benito County residents, the day is about giving back to the community.
The annual Holte Memorial Dinner will be held again Thanksgiving Day, while donations and volunteers are still needed.
“We don’t have donations coming in like we usually do,” said Larry Brown, who is on the dinner’s board. “It’s happening everywhere – people aren’t donating like in the past.”
The memorial dinner provides a Thanksgiving meal – complete with turkey, mashed potatoes and all the cranberry fixings – for residents in need.
Marley Holte and his wife at the time started the tradition more than 20 years ago when they decided they should spend the money they normally pay toward Christmas presents for each other to create the feast for local residents.
The event grew in popularity, feeding around 500 people and attracting around 100 volunteers each year.
Although Holte passed away in September of 2006, the tradition has lived on.
“When Marley was still alive he sat down at one meeting and said, ‘After I go, I want you guys to continue the tradition.’ And we said we would,” Brown said.
Still, Brown said he’s nervous this year because they haven’t received as many donations as in past years. He said they were in need of both food and money donations to help ensure the event’s success.
The number of people who show up each year also has waned, he said. Because of fewer numbers, they will be holding this year’s meal at the Community Center on West Street rather than at the Sacred Heart gymnasium.
In addition to donations, the event needs volunteers as well. Brown said he hadn’t gotten that many calls this year, but it’s difficult to know how many people will help because some call at the last minute or just show up.
One group that can be counted on at the Holte Memorial Dinner each year is Mansmith’s BBQ. Each year, they smoke the turkeys for the event.
Juanita Mansmith said she had decided to start volunteering for Thanksgiving several years ago.
“We got involved because our family was getting so small I felt like I didn’t have enough people at our dinner,” she said.
Each year, Juanita and her husband John cook around 30 or 35 turkeys in their smoker for the event. She said volunteering makes her realize how much she has to be thankful for in her own life – the true meaning of thanksgiving.
“Just the satisfaction that you’ve done something, that you’ve been able to help in some way,” Mansmith said. “There are so many people that need food and companionship and the things that we have so much of.”
Those interested in volunteering for the Holte Memorial Dinner should call Larry Brown at 831-637-9037. Food donations, including turkeys and any other Thanksgiving food items, should be dropped off at Baumgartner Realty at 470 Tres Pinos Road. Monetary donations can be made at San Benito Bank, care of the Holte Holiday Dinner account. The dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Community Center on 300 West St. on Thanksgiving Day.
