Volunteer Ellie Karjalainen, 7, of Port Angeles, right, helps with a to-go container of food during Thursday’s community Thanksgiving dinner in the gym of Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Volunteer Ellie Karjalainen, 7, of Port Angeles, right, helps with a to-go container of food during Thursday’s community Thanksgiving dinner in the gym of Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Queen of Angels feast serves more than 1,980 in Port Angeles

PORT ANGELES — The preparation began long before volunteers arrived in the kitchen at 5:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day.

And the effects will be felt long after 1,983 people had filtered out of the gym of Queen of Angels Catholic Church by 4 p.m. Thursday, 500 of them toting to-go boxes or plates containing a second — or third — Thanksgiving feast.

Founder and hostess Reath Ellefson began prepping for this day Nov. 25, 2016, on the heels of last year’s meal.

Started 10 years ago

Ellefson, who started the community dinner 10 years ago, spent the previous 364 days staking out 75 percent discount sales, penning donor letters, hosting sundry fundraisers and topping a 10-foot-by-20-foot storage unit with decor, winter clothing, toys and toiletries.

As a result, more than 300 people received free winter coats in two hours. The community gobbled up 47 turkeys, or 987 pounds of bird (and that’s a conservative estimate). Nearly 500 toys fell into grateful hands. And 60 faith, hope and love bags, hand-sewn bags brimming with toiletries and snacks, went primarily to homeless people.

“The [gift and clothing] rooms are just dwindled down,” Ellefson said.

Santa Claus, or 40-year Port Angeles resident Larry Hurd, gave a large candy cane and stuffed animal to every child, enlisting the help of two elves.

One of the elves, 11-year-old Luke Ruddell, also spent a few shifts in the clothing room, which held about 1,000 coats between infant to 3X sizes.

Of his motivation, Luke said, “I enjoy people getting nice, warm clothes, food and enjoying themselves.”

Lenette Kendrick, a volunteer who oversaw the clothing room, said she admired people’s honesty.

“People are so humble and grateful,” she said. “I love their honesty. You get to know some of the repeat people, and some are homeless. I’ll ask if they need a faith, hope, love bag this year, and they’ll say, ‘No, I’m OK this year.’ ”

Meanwhile in the gift room, volunteers pointed to the generosity of the room’s patrons.

Given the choice of a single gift, a mother chose one for her child rather than herself. Similarly, a young girl abandoned her chosen toy in lieu of a Harry Potter figurine for her brother, volunteer Diane Svec said.

Leftover items will be donated to Serenity House, saved for Clallam County Project Homeless Connect or reshelved in the storage unit for next year.

Ellefson started the meal a decade ago when doctors expected it to be her last Thanksgiving meal.

Asked about her motivation, Ellefson responded simply, “A lot of reasons, hon.”

“I grew up really poor, and I know what it feels like to not have Christmas or food on Thanksgiving,” Ellefson said. “I want people to feel like they’re somebody. All of these people — I want them to feel like friends in my own home.”

“This is how a dinner at her house looks like,” volunteer Stu Miller interjected.

“It comes from love,” said Ellefson, who won a 2015 Clallam County Community Service Award for organizing the community meal.

The meal serves all ages and classes, a feature that makes Ellefson especially proud.

She motioned to lawyers, doctors, veterans and homeless individuals, all seated around the gym.

“It warms my heart,” she said.

Other community meals on the North Olympic Peninsula were served in Sequim, Chimacum, Brinnon and Forks.

________

Reporter Sarah Sharp can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at ssharp@peninsuladailynews.com.

Daniel Russell of Port Angeles, left, shares a meal with his daughter, Sarah Russell, 8, in the gym of Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Port Angeles on Thanksgiving Day. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Daniel Russell of Port Angeles, left, shares a meal with his daughter, Sarah Russell, 8, in the gym of Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Port Angeles on Thanksgiving Day. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

More in News

From left, Mercedes Sunshine Shimko and Hudson Soelter.
Club grows local scholarships

The Port Angeles Garden Club awarded five area students… Continue reading

Ian Mason of Edgewood, an employee of Titan Earthworks, hammers a brick paver into place at the corner of First and Oak streets in downtown Port Angeles on Wednesday as part of a project to replace and repair sidewalks and curbs across the city. Included are the installation of improved wheelchair ramps, replacement of overgrown trees and numerous street corner repairs. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Sidewalk repairs

Ian Mason of Edgewood, an employee of Titan Earthworks, hammers a brick… Continue reading

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe members gather by the Elwha River to hold a ceremony in support of a petition to protect forests in the Elwha River Watershed. (John Gussman)
Groups advocate for timber cancellation

Water, environment center of concerns

Jefferson hears possible floodplains changes

New development standards, compliance and enforcement in updated code

Crews to trim tree limbs in Blyn

Maintenance workers from the state Department of Transportation will be… Continue reading

EYE ON BUSINESS: This week’s meetings

Meetings on Wednesdays at the student-run… Continue reading

Election security measures in place

Fire suppressant just one example

Ruby Speer, 3, of Port Angeles receives a treat from KaraLee Monroe of Kindred Collective as part of Thursday’s Halloween festivities in downtown Port Angeles. Hundreds of youngsters and adults made their way door-to-door in search of candy and other treasures. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Trick or treat in Port Angeles

Ruby Speer, 3, of Port Angeles receives a treat from KaraLee Monroe… Continue reading

Karen Huber, sister of Nash Huber, the owner of Nash’s Organic Produce, stands by large crates that hold various seeds that Nash sells to farmers. She said she’s mitigated alleged violations and concerns from property owner, Washington Land Trust, but the longtime farmer faces eviction from the property if he doesn’t comply with ending his lease agreement that goes through 2032. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Washington Farmland Trust could evict Dungeness farmer

Nash Huber helped preserve Delta Farm in 1999

Amy Seidewand chair making. (Lacey Carnahan)
Port Townsend Woodworkers Show ready for the weekend

Event dedicated to memory of woodworking pillar

Two ghosts dangle from a tree in the breeze in the 200 block of West 10th street in Port Angeles. Halloween events are scheduled today throughout the North Olympic Peninsula. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Ghostly visions

Two ghosts dangle from a tree in the breeze in the 200… Continue reading