Record number receive free Thanksgiving dinner in Camdenton
St. Anthony Parish in Camdenton set a new record for home deliveries during its 15th annual free Thanksgiving Day Caring and Sharing Dinner this year.
Volunteers delivered 182 “heat and eat” Thanksgiving meals to people who are homebound, at 71 locations in the city.
“This was the largest number we have seen in delivered meals since we sponsored the free dinner in 15 years,” stated St. Anthony parishioners Lisa Black-Schwandt and Joyce Robins, co-chairs of the event’s organizing committee. “It was a huge success even in the midst of COVID-19.”
Due to the pandemic, the beloved tradition of welcoming people into the St. Anthony Parish Hall to share a hot meal had to be scuttled this year.
Nonetheless, people came to the church to pick up 468 dinners curbside for them to heat and enjoy at home.
“The total diners for this year came 650,” the organizers stated. “Last year’s total was 571 served.”
One person walked to the church to receive a meal, “and we loaded him up with food,” said Mrs. Black-Schwandt.
Organizers said the spirit of caring was also in evidence by the number of volunteers who helped prepare the meal, wash the dishes, pack the food in bags, coordinate with local grocery stores, deliver the meals and assist in many other ways.
“Volunteers included entire families, and many were from other faith communities,” the organizers noted.
The parish offers the free meals each year to people who are homebound, alone or simply seeking fellowship and a good meal.
“It was truly a day of Thanks-giving: a day of caring and a day of sharing ... sharing our many blessings with others,” organizers said.
Mrs. Black-Schwandt said the volunteers especially felt like they were serving God this year.
I felt like we did what we needed to do,” she said. “It was a great day, we had wonderful volunteers. Our community really appreciated this day of giving.”
