To serve their communities
Volunteers serve Thanksgiving dinner Thursday at St. Damien of Molokai Parish, Monongahela, in Father Abbate Hall. From left are Don Warner, Beverly Seich and Nicole, Maddox and Trent Sukel.
In addition to opening their doors to the community, volunteers delivered meals to open businesses, senior housing and police officers Thursday. From left, Monongahela volunteers Linda Pankiewicz, Sharon Sarver, Colleen Bullock, Beverly Seich and Diana Guarinoni serve a meal.
From left, Joyce Lacks, Larry Lacks and Norma Williams bag Thanksgiving meals for residents Thursday at Canonsburg United Methodist Church.
For many, Thanksgiving was spent with loved ones.
But for some, the holiday was an opportunity to give to their communities.
“I’m glad I’m healthy enough to do this,” said Joyce Lacks, packaging up a meal. “People are so thankful.”
Lacks was one of more than 70 volunteers who helped prepare and serve traditional Thanksgiving fare Thursday at Canonsburg United Methodist, the host church for the Canonsburg-Houston Ministerial Association’s free community dinner.
This is the 33rd year the event has been held. Last year, more than 420 meals were served. This year, volunteers were prepared to serve at least that amount.
People were waiting in line when the doors opened at noon.
“There’s a financial need, but there’s also a need for companionship. Some people just don’t want to sit by themselves at home,” said Lynlee Caliguiri, who coordinated the event. “And for some elderly, it’s not necessarily financial, but they don’t have the ability to cook. We’re very fortunate to be able to do this.”
Loutsion Catering of Canonsburg prepared the food volunteers helped serve and box up for delivery and take out and to Meals on Wheels participants.
In Monongahela, St. Damien of Molokai Parish congregants and other community members started preparing yesterday for the meal, which has been served for 18 years.
About 60 volunteers participated, cooking, serving and preparing turkey and all the fixings, which were dispersed throughout the river town.
Deliveries were made to senior living and mental health facilities, open businesses and police officers, firefighters and emergency medical responders working the holiday.
“Some people don’t have people to eat with and need help,” said Deacon Al Poroda. “We’re very blessed to have all the volunteers over the years who have helped us.”
Adults weren’t the only ones to lend a hand Thursday.
Brothers Maddox, 11, and Trent, 8, volunteered with their parents, Nicole and Chad Sukel. Maddox scooped heaping spoonfuls of corn while Trent dished out green beans.
The boys weren’t fazed by giving up their holiday.
“We didn’t mind,” said Maddox, who asked for donations to the animal shelter in lieu of presents for his last birthday.
Sharon Sarver has made a tradition of helping her community.
“I like to do this every year,” she said. “It feels like I’m serving God.”