CHIMACUM — By early afternoon, the Tri Area Community Meals Thanksgiving dinner was well on its way to serving about 290 people Thursday.
“Look at all these smiles. This is truly the true meaning of community,” said Anita Schmucker, a member of the community meals board and a volunteer at the meal at the Tri-Area Community Center.
“I don’t think there’s a hard part to planning this. It’s all pleasure.”
The Tri Area Community Meals Thanksgiving Dinner was packed with people Thursday at the Tri Area Community Center. More than 90 meals also were delivered to community members throughout the county. (Zach Jablonski/Peninsula Daily News)
This is the third year that Tri Area Community Meals has hosted the free, donation-driven dinner.
The organization took over the planning of the meal three years ago after Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) was unable to continue managing it, said Rita Hubbard, Tri Area Community Meals board chairman.
Hubbard credits Elena Lovato-Kraut and Bill Kraut, owners of Hadlock Building Supply, for stepping up and helping organize the group, which now has its own board and plans meals for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Volunteers were preparing for more than 200 people to attend the meal and by 1 p.m. it looked apparent that they would reach that number.
They also delivered more than 90 cooked dinners to community members throughout Jefferson County.
In 2018, some 280 people were served in person and just over 80 received home meal deliveries, Schmucker said.
Twenty-two turkeys were purchased and then carved by the Port Townsend QFC employees. Turkey was served with traditional staples of Thanksgiving such as mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, gravy and stuffing, Hubbard said.
Volunteers A.K. Smiley and her husband Mike Smiley load the back of their vehicle with Thanksgiving meals, as they help deliver more than 90 meals to housebound community members. (Zach Jablonski/Peninsula Daily News)
Community member Matt Holland attended both this meal and also the meal at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Wednesday.
“I like the church and the people and I haven’t come to this one before, but I felt like it was important to come to this meal,” Holland said. “This is a very auspicious occasion. Eating aside, it’s the community.
“I’m just grateful that this community honors the citizens of the community. … It’s just a real special opportunity.”
Community member Roselyne Settlermire attends the Thanksgiving meal regularly.
“I come to celebrate Thanksgiving,” Settlermire said. “The people are so nice and it’s nice to see all the people happy and enjoying the food like a family. “
The meal is put on through financial, material and time donations from attendees, supporters, 1st Security Bank, Jefferson Healthcare, Pane d’Amore Artisan Bakery, Port Townsend Creamery, Barb Dawson/Bob Longmire(provided live music), the Malan and Somes families and more than 80 volunteer staff members.
The Tri Area Community Meals will host another holiday meal on Christmas Day, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Tri Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road.
Hubbard encourages people interested in volunteering to fill out the form at triareacommunitymeals.org.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
