Tracy Hagen will probably be sick of turkey by Thanksgiving.
The head (and only) chef for the Salvation Army in Port Angeles started cooking six birds Monday.
And if all goes as planned, she will still be preparing the trimmings for 200 people right up until noon for today’s free turkey dinner.
The Salvation Army has served the traditional season fare to the area’s homeless and needy for at least 10 years, making sure everybody gets a chance to celebrate the holiday, Hagen said.
Somehow, the head chef moniker fell to her this year But after three days of turkeys and a week of pies, Hagen said she doesn’t mind.
“It’s very self-gratifying,” she said. “There’s a lot of people that can’t afford to have turkey or get away (for the holiday).”
The Salvation Army wants “to make sure everyone gets a little stuffing, a little pie,” Hagen said.
All of the food comes from community and food bank donations. Several volunteers will serve the food this afternoon, but the Salvation Army could use more help for cleanup, Hagen said.
The Salvation Army is also accepting food donations for its Christmas dinner, scheduled for Dec. 19.
Today’s Thanksgiving dinner will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army, 206 S. Peabody St. All are welcome to attend.
The rest of this story, including where other free Thanksgiving dinners are scheduled, appears in today’s Peninsula Daily News. Click on “Subscribe” to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.