Letter: Community Thanksgiving dinner served 672 meals

Dear editors,

Once again, we executed the Community Thanksgiving Dinner with no walk rounds, no phone calls, no deliveries all over town, due to the coronavirus and safety issues.

We served 672 meals with a lot of snafus and a shortage of volunteers, but as always, we got the job done. Thanks to Dewayne Hawkins who directed traffic to the portico, where Gabbie Hodgekiss and Pastor Marc (One Church) delivered the meals that Vickey Wilson and Anne Quick had boxed or sacked for them, making it a smooth and workable process.

The kitchen crew, Eric Stevens, Lenny and John, kept things rolling, keeping the mashed potatoes filled and the green beans, corn and sweet potatoes replenished by opening cans and filling pans. Chris Draper kept the pans rinsed for refills. Our regular Jimmy Draper was out of town and his absence was felt. A special shout out to DK who kept the pans filled for the servers. You rock!

Without help from local organizations and churches in the Sikeston community, this meal wouldn’t be possible. The American Legion, Food Giant and the United Way furnished the turkeys; Lambert’s, Jay’s, Burch Foods donate rolls; Christian Academy, Sun Loan, Empire Financing, National Honor Society and YMCA hold can drives; individuals, churches and organizations in the community donated gift cards to help purchase supplies; the VFW donates the use of their building; First Baptist Church allows us the use of big pots and cake pans. A special thanks to Shady Acres church members for all you do; you always go above and beyond.

Thank you to the ladies of Miner Baptist for their generous donation. May God heap blessings on all of you.

The volunteers are awesome! Amy Nantz and her daughters, Ashley and Erin, chopped onions and celery at home, then because we were short on volunteers, took the buns and cornbread home and mixed it with a food processor, added sage and brought it back the next day ready to mix as dressing. Ashley and Erin did a fine job of mixing up the dressing. Amy’s husband, John, came and helped by running errands to pick up needed supplies. ...Thank you to the few volunteers who showed up on Wednesday to de-bone turkeys, lay out ham and chop eggs and giblets. ...Also our thanks to Chester Kordahl who cooked the turkeys for us and manages to get them to the VFW. The spirit of giving is alive in Sikeston and it includes the youth; that is a blessing in itself.

Thanks to Lisa Hicks who takes care of cutting and boxing the desserts. She also helped in other areas. Some of you may know her from the Oaks Center. Just want her to know she is appreciated for all she does. This year she was unable to help as much because of a possible blood clot in her leg. A special thanks to Lydia Hodgkiss and Noah Lowe who deliver to Morehouse; Kathy Harrington who delivers to Haywood City; and to Mrs. Sloan for taking care of Wendell Apartments. They have been with this mission for years.

A special thanks goes out to Lisa Angle of the United Way who donated six turkeys, which were smoked by Jimmy Draper and a friend of Gabbie’s. They were perfect.

This community always steps up to the plate and answers the call, fills the need. Each of us is here for a reason, we impact each others lives in some way, no matter how small. I am so glad to be able to still be a part of this mission, to be able to carry on this endeavor, to be able to share the blessings, to impact people in ways we may never be aware of … .

To ALL of you who volunteered or gave donations … THANK YOU! You’re the best. You stay dedicated to this mission year after year. God Bless each and everyone of you who helped in any way. You are what makes the meal a success every year, regardless of how many meals are served.

Once again it was a GREAT THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION FEAST!!!!!!!

See you next year.

Marlene Stevens, coordinator

Sikeston Community

Thanksgiving Dinner