Fort Scott group plans community Thanksgiving

By Brett Dalton

Herald-Tribune

Fort Scott, Kan. -- Along with family, friends and football, Thanksgiving Day is traditionally popular for the food. However, for various reasons, not everyone will be able to enjoy a hearty meal at their own home.

Enter Fort Scott resident Marjorie Schwalm.

Schwalm, along with a abundance of volunteers, will conduct the 8th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Nov. 23, at the Elks Lodge, 111 W. 19th St. The dinner, featuring a meal of turkey, homemade noodles, green beans, dinner rolls and more, is free of charge and open to every area resident.

"This is a meal that is for the entire community," Schwalm said. "Everyone is invited to this dinner. It's families, it's single people, it's anyone who doesn't want to cook a big meal or just wants to get out and meet different people."

For those who cannot get out to attend the meal, Schwalm said, volunteers are also available to deliver meals to local households.

"We usually deliver close to 200 meals," Schwalm said. "There's an awful lot of elderly and people that rely on Meals on Wheels throughout the week, and that's the only way they get a meal that day. So I have volunteers that go out and do whatever I need them to do, and delivering meals is one thing."

Anyone wanting a meal delivered needs only to call Schwalm at (620) 223-1521 and give her their name and address. Schwalm said the number of meals served at the lodge is nearly equal to the number delivered on Thanksgiving.

Serving more than 200 meals and delivering just as many may seem like a daunting task, but Schwalm has proven over the years that she is up to the challenge.

"I will have food for everyone that shows up," she said. "I might not have some of everything, but I will have food for everybody that comes. It's a lot of craziness the night before and the day of, but I have a lot of people that help out."

Along with the meals, Schwalm said, attendees enjoy the day because of its social nature.

"It is a big social event," she said. "Nobody is in a hurry to leave. Everybody has a good time."

Schwalm said she receives help from her family as well as various local organizations, such as area churches and Mercy Health Center, to pull off the community dinner. She admits that it is hard work and can become quite costly, but she said providing meals to people who may not have one otherwise makes it all worthwhile.

"They are so thankful and so appreciative for getting this food, and they look forward to it year after year," she said. "I know I'm helping these people. They get a good meal and they get it brought to their house. Otherwise, they would be eating a frozen dinner or a sandwich or something on Thanksgiving Day."

While there is no charge for the meal, Schwalm said she will accept any goodwill donations that will go toward making up for the cost of all the food.