The first four turkeys for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner have been roasted and deboned, the first big chore in a wave of preparations the annual feast at St. Barnabas Church.
Volunteers will prepare at least 30 additional donated birds before the meal on Nov. 27, when Cortez residents may share a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in the church’s newly renovated Mary Blake Hall.
Before then, drippings will be stored to make gallons of gravy. Stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, and all the fixings will be in waiting for two seatings at 11:30 a.m. and noon. Each meal will end with a slice of pie, many of which will be homemade and donated by area residents.
This will be the 18th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner hosted and organized by St. Barnabas Church. But members of St. Barnabas aren’t alone in this endeavor. It takes the contributions of the entire community for this feast to happen.
To help feed the 400 people expected to attend, donations are being accepted. Frozen turkeys can be brought any morning to St. Barnabas at 110 W. North St. (corner North and Elm). There will be sign-up sheets for volunteers needed to make the meal run smoothly. You may also call 970-565-7865 to secure a spot. Financial donations to help cover costs are accepted.
When Thanksgiving arrives, everyone is invited and encouraged to join their neighbors for the meal. The hall has a new chair lift, so those for whom stairs are an issue will find easy access. Those who aren’t able to attend may call the office at 565-7865 no later than Monday, Nov. 24 to arrange for a delivery or may plan for someone to stop by and pick up their meal.
