Communities come together for Thanksgiving meals
Holly Tonini
Salvation Army Capt. Sue Thwaite places a donated turkey in the refrigerator at the Salvation Army in Monessen.
Holly Tonini
Salvation Army Capt. Sue Thwaite accepts a donated bag of potatoes from board member Tom Totin of Greensburg.
While many families will sit down together for Thanksgiving, there are those living alone who have no one to share the holiday meal with.
In Monongahela, Monessen and North Belle Vernon, organizations are offering not only traditional meals on Thursday, but also the shared sense of community.
“The reason for the continued tradition is, in a word, fellowship,” said Dan Lisovich, business manager for St. Sebastian Parish. “It’s just a good time and a show of community fellowship and volunteerism.”
St. Sebastian Parish Hall in North Belle Vernon has hosted the Belle Vernon Area Ministerium Association’s Thanksgiving meal for 20 years. It will be served this year from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“It’s a place where people can come,” Lisovich said. “On Thanksgiving, it’s not feasible for some who live alone to make a big Thanksgiving dinner so they come here. It’s a nice time and it’s a free meal.”
Food is donated by the ministerium association member churches. In addition, Lisovich said, St. Sebastian Church has a charity fund that benefits such causes as the Thanksgiving meal.
Likewise, Thanksgiving dinner will be served by the Monessen Citadel of the Salvation Army from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Monessen Civic Center. This is the third year for that community meal.
“We just felt there was a need because there are so many elderly and people in our community who eat alone,” said Capt. Susan Thwaite.
That need has been demonstrated by the growing participation. Thwaite said 150 participated in 2014. More than 300 ate at the community Thanksgiving meal last year.
“And we expect it to grow this year because it is more than a meal,” Thwaite said.
Last year, 45 volunteers from ages 6 to 85, all “worked in unison,” Thwaite said.
“Last year, one woman peeled 50 pounds of potatoes so no one had to eat instant potatoes,” Thwaite said with a smile.
This year, Hoss’s Steak & Sea House in Rostraver Township and Felicia’s Restaurant & Lounge in Monessen are donating and baking all of the turkeys. Monessen Elementary Center students are making the placemats.
“We involve the whole community,” Thwaite said. “That’s what makes it special. It’s not just like a soup kitchen. We sit and hang out.”
St. Damien Of Molokai Church in Monongahela has been serving Thanksgiving for the community for 18 years. The tradition started at St. Anthony’s Church before it merged with Transfiguration Church to form St. Damien Of Molokai.
The dinner is served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Father Abate Hall at the Park Avenue site.
“We also deliver between 150 and 200 meals throughout the area, including to the high rises in Monongahela and New Eagle, to all of the businesses which are open and to the first responders such as the police, fire and the EMTs,” said Deacon Al Poroda.
Volunteers come from all over the city, including all denominations of churches, as well as Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Donora and Mary Mother of the Church parish in Charleroi.
After serving their neighbors, the volunteers sit down and eat together.
“I think it’s grown to be what it is because the people want to help and give back for what they’ve been given,” Poroda said. “We have had an overwhelming response from the community and it is great how they come together. Even on Thanksgiving Day, they come out to serve or even to clean up after.”
And Poroda believes the tradition will continue.
“It’s something we will do for plenty more years, as long as God provides,” Poroda said.