ESCANABA — Thanksgiving is less than three weeks away and the Community Thanksgiving Dinner Board, lead by “Head Turkey” Denny LaMarch, has already created the dinner menu. This year marks the 40th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

“Absolutely everyone in the community is invited,” said LaMarch. “It doesn’t matter your income. It’s a meal to bring people together, visit, and have a family-style Thanksgiving dinner together. We do not want anyone to be alone.”

Every year since 1979, the community has come together to be a part of a sit-down family-style Thanksgiving meal. Whether it’s an individual making a monetary donation, a food donation provided by a local business, or hours of someone’s time given to serve others, the community as a whole make up the Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

The First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba hosted the first Community Thanksgiving Dinner and it found a permanent home at the Escanaba High School cafeteria, also known as the commons.

Through the years, the free Thanksgiving meal has been served to more and more people. Approximately 1,000 people enjoy the meal each year, either by delivery, takeout, or with others in the cafeteria. The spirit of the dinner started from the thought, ‘no one should be alone on Thanksgiving Day’.

“Last year, over 200 people gathered together in the cafeteria. There were approximately 700 orders for pick-up or delivery,” said LaMarch.

As you can imagine, providing a Thanksgiving dinner to 1,000 people in one day takes a lot of work and planning, 700 pounds of turkey roasted, potatoes peeled, 610 cans of cranberry sauce opened, containers of food made and delivered, then clean up.

“We need volunteers all day Wednesday and Thursday,” LaMarch said. “We appreciate everyone who would like to help. If you have a specific thing you want to do that’ll be no problem. We will also take in monetary donations.”

The menu will consist of roasted turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, mixed vegetables, rolls, coffee, milk, pie and cake.

“The food is donated from individual businesses locally,” said LaMarch. “The Swedish Pantry is donating the dressing. Dobbers is providing 350 pounds of potatoes. OSF is donating mixed vegetables. Elmer’s is providing rolls. Local fast food restaurants are donating 450 pints of milk and the Donut Connection is providing donuts to volunteers.”

LaMarch said any food left over will be packed up and donated to local food pantries.

“We are asking for donated pie and desserts,” said LaMarch. “They can bring them in Wednesday and Thursday at the school cafeteria.”

LaMarch has volunteered for many years and, together with Maggie Tall and Theresa Nelson, created a non-profit to continue the legacy of the Community Thanksgiving Dinner for years to come.

“The original reason to have the dinner was to bring people together,” said LaMarch.

Residents who want a meal delivered to them, or need a ride to the high school, should call the Escanaba Senior Center at 906-786-8850. Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA) will provide rides.

To volunteer or donate money contact the Community Foundation for Delta County at 906-789-6654. Send monetary donations to Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner Board c/o Community Foundation for Delta County, 912 7th Ave. S, Escanaba, Mich. 49829.

The Community Action program, Meals on Wheels, will start deliveries at 10 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. Plates will be available for pickup starting at 11 a.m. and the meal will start at noon and finish at 1:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. This is not a buffet style dinner.

The Escanaba High School cafeteria can hold 600 people at a time.