A community Thanksgiving

Students, volunteers and non-profit agencies give thanks by giving back to needy families for upcoming community Thanksgiving dinner

MOSES LAKE — Those who will come to gather for the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Moses Lake United Methodist Church Nov. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be getting more than a hot meal, including the company of a community that cares.

That community includes citizen and church volunteers, Goodwill Industries workers and extends to students at the Columbia Basin Job Corps who want to give of their time and talents to helping others.

Culinary art student Sophie Maines, one of many Job Corps students who will be preparing the meal for the community dinner which served roughly 100 people last year, says this is one way to show how thankful she is by using the skills learned at Job Corps to give back to her community.

For Maines, community is about "getting to know people outside of Job Corps and being there to help out and have pride in what your doing."

For people who cannot afford to have their own Thanksgiving, this is a chance to have dinner and spend time together with people in the community, said Helen Terry with People for People who is providing transportation to anyone who needs it and calls at least one day before the dinner.

And taking that extra step, or drive, in Terry's case, is what giving back is all about. "We'll go anywhere in Grant County," she said.

Getting into the holiday spirit is part of the fun of putting on the dinner too.

"The holidays are about friends, family and coming together to celebrate the many blessings God gives us," said the Rev. Gen Clark with the Moses Lake United Methodist Church.

"This is the time of year of giving your time to make other peoples lives happier," said church volunteer Wanda Harrison.

Reconnecting with people through opportunities like the community Thanksgiving dinner is one way that John Clark, team leader with the Moses Lake Goodwill Industries, believes that people can not only provide for each other's immediate needs, but learn about the services available to them.

Needy families and individuals can find out about programs available to assist them with day to day needs through nonprofit organizations like Goodwill, and "Job Corps students can see what other vocations are available in the working-with-people industry," Clark said.

"Thanksgiving is a time when you're introspective about what you have to be thankful for and helping those less fortunate," said Bonnie Eagar, the work-based learning coordinator at the CBJC. This is a way to serve others and "service is gratifying."

Donations for the community Thanksgiving dinner can be dropped off tomorrow at the Wal-Mart in Moses Lake from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To call for a ride to the dinner, contact Helen Terry at 765-9249.