Community Thanksgiving

Chefs from the Davenport, Latah Bistro, Santé, Wild Sage, Catered for You and Scratch have all volunteered to carve up 150 turkeys that will be served at the The Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant’s Thanksgiving Dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 17. “They can break down a bird in 12 minutes, and it looks great,” says Marlene Alford, executive director.

It takes a small army of volunteers to prepare 846 pounds of mashed potatoes, 65 gallons of gravy, Caesar salad, green beans, sweet potatoes, cranberries, pumpkin pie and the numerous other dishes that will be on the menu.

In addition to the volunteer staff in the kitchen (including one volunteer who grew and dried the sage for the stuffing), several local businesses have pitched in. Spokane’s Pawn 1 is sponsoring the event. Darigold is lending refrigerated trucks for extra cold storage, and the pumpkin desserts will be baked in the convection ovens at Meals on Wheels. “There’s a community teamwork feel that’s important to everyone involved,” says Alford.

This year, for the first time, the Free Restaurant is adding a second site to its annual Thanksgiving feast (everyone is welcome — not just women and children). Alford is expecting 500-700 diners at the Free Restaurant and another 700-800 guests at the East Central Community Center.

“We don’t cut any corners. We do all of the extra nice things — like nametags that allow people to visit,” says Alford, who strives to create a sense of community and not just a free meal. She notes that many come for the companionship as much as they do for the food.

In addition to the big event, the Free Restaurant serves dinner to women and children on Tuesdays-Wednesdays at 3 pm, and Friday lunch and Fresh Market for take home produce at 12:30 pm. — KIRSTEN HARRINGTON

Thanksgiving Dinner will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 3-7 pm at two locations: The Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant at 1620 N. Monroe St. (inside St. Paul’s Methodist Church) and at the East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone St. Free. Call 324-1995.