Thanksgiving is all about what you are thankful for… and food. However, some people might not have food this holiday season, so Mistie Holaday and her family started Community Thanksgiving a few years ago. This event was crucial for them because they wanted to ensure everybody in Atlantic had food and could socialize with the community during the holiday season.
For a few years, Holaday’s family has made a meal for someone in need every year. The family would contact the high school and would find out how many people were in the family most in-need. Holaday said, “We would make the meal and a liaison with the school to pick up the meal and then deliver it.” About four years ago, AHS contacted the Holaday Family and said that there were multiple families in need. Since they couldn’t make a meal for all of them, the Community Thanksgiving idea was born. Holaday said, “The following year our family decided to start the Community Thanksgiving and hoped to feed 100 people. In the first year, we served over 250 meals, and last year, we served over 550 meals.”
The Community Thanksgiving is a meal served on Thanksgiving day to anyone who wants a home-cooked meal for free. Anyone can come to the Cass County Community Building to eat or take a container to go. They also offer deliveries to homes in the Atlantic. Holaday said, “This year, we have expanded and will have drop locations in Wiota, Anita, Cumberland, Massena, Lewis, Griswold, Marne, Walnut, Exira, and Elk Horn.” She said that the out-of-town drop locations have to be pre-ordered before Thanksgiving day and can be picked up at an area they have set.
Every year they serve smoked turkey and ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, rolls, and, of course, pie. She said, “We have stayed pretty close to the same foods every year to keep things consistent and let people know it will be the same great food.”
“We are blessed to have a fantastic community that helps with every aspect of the Community Thanksgiving,” said Holaday. Her family smokes all the meat and cooks all the sides, while Ms. Wallace’s Foods’ class makes pies, as do others in the community. They also go around to area businesses asking for sponsorships to help with the cost of products. They even have individuals who donate money and food.
The community can get involved in multiple ways. The organizers are always looking for volunteers: most of their volunteers work several hours at a time. “Our delivery drivers usually come at 10:30 and are done by noon,” Holaday said. Monetary donations/sponsorships can be dropped off at Rolling Hills Bank; just make sure to note that it is for Community Thanksgiving. If a person would like to donate food, they can call 712-250-1599 for more information. They are always in need of more pies. This is also a good opportunity for students to earn Silver Cord hours while connecting with their community and supporting those in need this Holiday season.
