Community shares Thanksgiving feast in Polson
Linda Sappington
Scott Heinz refills the gravy tray so Jo Durand, background, and Kaye Stamm, right, can keep the plates full.
Linda Sappington
Erika Cook places a dollop of whipped cream on her pie
Linda Sappington
Cameron Michel, 2, tries to stick an olive on his finger while in the arms of Lucinda Michel.
Linda Sappington
Volunteers C.W. Adams and Lupita Carillo clear plates, tossing paper dessert ones in the garbage and preparing the silverplate utensils and ceramic dinner plates to be washed.
Linda Sappington
Diane Alderdice keeps the beat as local musicians create festive ambiance with folksy tunes.
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
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The savory aroma of Thanksgiving dinner floated into the parking lot of the Polson Senior Citizens Center Thursday, beckoning visitors inside to share a traditional meal with friends and family.
The free dinner at the Polson center began more than a decade ago, with about 50 people in attendance who had nowhere else to go.
“And it blossomed into this,” Tracy Plaiss said.
Now the volunteers serve nearly 600 people in just three hours, with turkey and trimmings served on ceramic plates and utensils that need washing at the end of the day. Volunteers deliver 100-125 dinners to those who cannot attend, pick up people who need a ride to the senior center, and deliver meals to working law enforcement.
“We have a lot of good natured, good hearted volunteers,” Plaiss said.
The food is only part of what draws people of all ages to share a meal together.
“It’s all about community. That’s why we are here,” Angie Vance said as she finished up dinner with Charley Mitchell.
What brought Mitchell to the dinner, he replied with a twinkle in his eye, was a red truck.
In the quaint kitchen, dedicated volunteers Kaye Stamm and Jo Durand dished up home-cooked turkey, buttery mashed potatoes and steamy gravy — just as they have done for 14 years in a row, according to Plaiss.
Near the salad table, adults tried to coax 2-year-old Cameron Michel to put a black olive on his pointer finger. The little lad couldn’t quite figure it out, to the laughter of mom and other volunteers; nearby a young boy carefully refilled coffee cups from a thermal pot. Other volunteers cleared plates, trays and silverware and tossed paper dessert plates into the garbage.
And array of fruit and pumpkin pies caused guests to pause before carefully making their selection and topping it with a dollop of whipped cream.
Diane Alderdice clapped along to folksy tunes provided by local musicians. In past years she’s worked the community supper, but sat out this time due to a recent surgery.
“It’s great to see all these people enjoying one another,” Alderdice said. “In a world full of pain and misery, it’s good to just enjoy your neighbors.”
Nancy Bisson attended the dinner because she didn’t have a turkey cooking in her oven at home.
“And,” Bisson said, “it’s a nice atmosphere here.”
Bisson also hummed along to the music, singing “Can I have this dance for the rest of my life” to her dinner partner, Irvine Haviland.
“But I don’t think he heard me,” she noted with a grin.
Haviland said he was grateful for veterans and being free; Bisson was glad to just be alive.
“I thank the Lord we are still here,” she said.
