By Phil Anderson, The Topeka Capital-Journal, November 25, 2009
The turkey is in.
The trimmings aren't.
Therein lies the challenge for organizers of the 42nd annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, which will be from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Kansas Expocentre's Agricultural Hall, S.W. 17th and Tyler.
As of noon Tuesday, 48 hours before the free community dinner is served, about a dozen volunteers were busy carving, slicing and de-boning Butterball precooked turkeys in the newly refurbished Ag Hall kitchen.
No lack of birds here.
But aside from cranberries, which were received in abundance this year, such trimmings as yams, green beans, instant potatoes, broth and stuffing were in short supply.
Dinner organizers aren't hitting the panic button yet, but they are putting out a plea for more food donations -- and soon.
"It's the exact same thing we had last year," said Myron Johnson, president of the Community Thanksgiving Dinner Foundation, which oversees the annual feast. "When we got the word out, the food came in."
This year, Johnson said, early donations of food are lagging a bit, possibly because of the economy.
However, Johnson believes that once local media outlets report on the shortage, the food will roll in -- even at the 11th hour.
Dwight Menke, kitchen coordinator for the annual dinner, also expressed confidence that food donations would arrive in time.
"This is the 42nd year we've done this," Menke said. "The Topeka community has not failed us yet. But we've got to get the word out."
Food can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Ag Hall.
Menke said between 2,800 and 2,900 dinners are expected to be served Thursday. Last year, 2,725 meals were served.
The menu will include turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, pie and drinks.
Volunteers will deliver about 900 dinners to people in the Topeka community, while the other meals will be eaten in Ag Hall.
A $24,000 renovation of the Ag Hall kitchen this year should make serving nearly 3,000 meals much easier than in the past, Menke said. Improvements include three new electric convection ovens, a new commercial refrigerator and new sinks at the west end of the kitchen.
Funds for kitchen improvements were raised by the Community Thanksgiving Dinner Foundation through contributions from Topeka-area residents, as well as by matching funds from Shawnee County.
"We raised $12,000 from the community," Menke said, "and the county matched that with another $12,000."
Shirley Bell and Catherine Ullman were busy carving turkey Tuesday morning in the Ag Hall kitchen. Bell was volunteering for her fourth year, while Ullman was in the kitchen for the sixth straight year.
"It's just great to be able to volunteer," Bell said.
Ullman said she was glad to lend a hand. Both Bell and Ullman said they would be in the Ag Hall kitchen on Thursday.
"It 's a very good feeling to be able to help the poor and the people who are lonely and need a warm place to come on Thanksgiving," Ullman said. "I feel very blessed to be able to help."
Several hundred other volunteers already have been lined up, including delivering meals to homes in the Topeka community.
The annual event dates back to 1968 when Pauline Johnson -- she is still volunteering at age 83 -- and the late Addie Spicher held the first Community Thanksgiving Dinner for 69 people at East Topeka United Methodist Church, 708 S.E. Lime.
The event has grown through the years and has changed locations several times, including being held in the basement of the old Municipal Auditorium and at the Kansas National Guard Armory.
It has found a home at Ag Hall and remains a tradition for people from all walks of life as they break bread and give thanks together each Thanksgiving.
Phil Anderson can be reached at (785) 295-1195 or phil.anderson@cjonline.com