Does someone have to work on Thanksgiving? Are relationships with family strained? Do loved ones live in a different state? Are grocery prices too high for purchasing a traditional Thanksgiving dinner? Would a person like to volunteer and serve others?
If readers said yes to any of those questions, there is a place for them this holiday season.
Thursday, November 24, Thanksgiving Day, Allen and Red Buller with their son RJ are hosting a community feast. The event will take place from 2-6 p.m. at the Pioneer Center, and all who attend will be served a free Thanksgiving meal complete with all the traditional fixings.
To go meals also will be available, so even if someone doesn’t have time to sit down for dinner, or if crowds make them uncomfortable, they can still have the Thanksgiving meal.
“I know how it is without your loved ones for the holidays. It’s devastating. It’s like you go into an instant depression. If everyone can show up and have a good time, then it will be a success in our eyes,” Allen said.
And they both are working hard to make the event a success. All the food preparations are being done by the couple themselves. “We love cooking Thanksgiving, and we always make way too much,” Red said. “We always have weeks of leftovers left.
So I figured it would be better to cook for a bunch of people.”
The two said they are preparing for a large crowd, and no one needs to RSVP ahead of time. “We’re planning for a high amount of people, so we’ll have plenty of food,” Allen said. “Even if people decide that morning to come, they’re welcome.”
Allen and Red also shared any volunteer efforts from the community would be welcome. Food donations or serving and cleaning on the day of the event would be welcome help. Even if a community member just wanted to lend a helping hand for 30 minutes between family gatherings, the effort would be appreciated.
Allen and Red both said if the event goes well, they want to continue hosting the dinner for years to come for the community.
“If it’s successful we’re going to keep doing it and make it a tradition,” Red said.
For more information or to volunteer, call the WDN office at (580)772-3301 or send a message to Red Campo on Facebook.