Thanksgiving feast shared with the community

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Last year, Barb Jones of Charles City volunteered to serve turkey at the traditional Charles City community Thanksgiving dinner for the first time.

She said it was the best Thanksgiving she’d had in years.

“It was the most welcoming thing I’ve ever been a part of,” she said. “I love it.”

Jones was back at it again this year, donning a powder-blue “CC Cares” T-shirt as she helped more than 300 members of the community enjoy a good Thanksgiving meal at Messiah Lutheran Church.

Jones was one of more than 30 CC Cares volunteers, ranging in age from 5 to 75 years old, who served up all the usual holiday favorites — turkey, ham, potatoes, stuffing, corn, beans, salads, rolls and pie.

The community meal was designed as a way to help ensure no one has to eat alone during the holiday. Last year almost 350 people were served.

“CC Cares does a lot of different things,” Jones said. “I’ve volunteered for other things, but this is like a family.”

Sponsors of the annual event, which has been going on for more than a quarter-century, included the Salvation Army, Swartzrock Implement, Soifer Family McDonalds, Darlene Vogelson Memorial, T.J. Service, Charles City Electronics, Jeremy Heyer at Edward D. Jones, CUS Bank, Citizens Bank and First Security Bank.

A freewill donation was requested from each diner, and the money raised will provide seed money for next year’s dinner. Kim Watkins has been the event organizer for about the last decade.

Diners could also carry food out, and several people arranged to have meals delivered to their homes. Jones said more than 150 deliveries were made Thursday morning before the doors opened at 11 a.m.