Pulling Together Parish Doesn’t Have A Lot Of Wealth, But Members Give Freely Of Themselves To Spread Thanksgiving Splendor
It just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving for Dolora Howerton if she wasn’t busy baking 30 pumpkin pies.
Elaine Uhlenkott’s holiday includes collecting 800 pounds of turkey, 140 pounds of vegetables, and figuring how many gallons of milk are needed to fill 480 glasses.
Others rise at 6 a.m. on their day off to start cooking stuffing and simmering broth.
For more than 200 volunteers at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hillyard, this is a traditional Thanksgiving.
Beginning at noon today they’ll serve 600 dinners to people from throughout Spokane who might otherwise be alone or go hungry.
“This is a time when we all come together with an incredible energy and spirit,” said volunteer Rita Waldref. “I can’t imagine our parish not having this dinner. It is a part of us and who we are.”
The free dinner has been served in the church’s school hall for 27 years.
St. Pat’s is one of the poorer parishes in Spokane and many of the Thanksgiving volunteers have known hard times themselves.
“But we are the wealthiest parish in terms of giving,” said the Rev. Joe Weitensteiner, pastor at St. Patrick’s. “Anytime I ask for volunteers, I get gobs.
“They may not be the wealthiest cash-wise, but they give of themselves, and ask for nothing in return.”
The volunteer spirit reaches far beyond the parish walls. Weeks before the event the church office takes calls from college students who’ll be staying in town over the holiday, or from students coming home. Calls come from Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston and Deer Park.
Eric Forsythe from the Outback Steakhouse, volunteered his 19 trainers, spending their holiday away from families as they prepare to open the new restaurant at Franklin Park Mall.
“We thought we could volunteer our time and effort and do some good,” said Forsythe.
But the volunteer slots were already filled.
“Every year there are more volunteers,” said Dolora Howerton. “They come from throughout the city.”
Volunteers without specific assignments are asked to walk around and talk to the guests.
The goal is to make the dinner more like a special occasion than a charity event. Guests are seated at tables decorated by St. Patrick’s School students. The meal is served restaurant-style.
“I’m all by myself and I want to be with others on that day,” said Doris Evans, who’s enjoyed dinner at St. Pat’s for several years. “The food is excellent, I like all of it. It is wonderful to be with some people.”
And for those who can’t come to dinner, plates of turkey with all the trimmings are taken to them.
Volunteers deliver food and friendship, often staying to chat after bringing in the meal.
Laidlaw Transit donates buses, gas and drivers for the afternoon, picking up passengers at 10 locations and driving them to the church for dinner.
Buses are sent to collect as many as 80 men from the House of Charity.
James Finborg, now a volunteer at House of Charity, attended dinners in the past and is looking forward to it again this year.
“If there wasn’t this dinner, I’d probably stay in my room alone and watch TV on Thanksgiving,” said Finborg. “If it wasn’t for those volunteers, these people would be more down and out than they are.”
Children contribute as much as adults. During the early years of the dinner, students were asked to bring cans of food.
“We had a jillion cans of string beans,” said Howerton.
Now students bring cranberries, pickles or olives. The youngsters are also enlisted to pour milk and serve pie.
The Sunday before Thanksgiving, parishioners grab a turkey as they leave church, bake it and bring it back Wednesday night for slicing. That night, women gather to crumble 60 loaves of bread for stuffing.
“It’s something like a quilting bee, but with bread,” noted one observer.
Next is the “cutting of the onions.” It takes off from there. The next 24 hours are filled with activities from set up to clean up. After so many years, it rolls like clockwork.
Ann McKay is part of the early morning cooking crew, preparing stuffing and “gallons and gallons” of gravy.
It’s an awesome feeling, seeing all these people come through the door and knowing that they are getting a good meal,” said McKay who’s worked at the dinner for 15 years. “I love it. It is exhilarating to see all those people. Sometimes a whole family will come.
“It takes all of these people working together, otherwise it wouldn’t happen,” said McKay.
Al and Jean Kiefel have been part of the dinner from the start, bringing their children, and now their grandchildren with them. They volunteer for clean up.
“It’s just such a typical St. Patrick’s thing,” said Jean Kiefel. “They are always reaching out and willing to help. It’s a great feeling, it’s hard to put in words.”
Volunteers insist they benefit more than the guests who leave with tummies full of turkey.
“We all get a lot out of it,” said Louise Andrews, who is coordinating the event this year.
“You aren’t giving something up. These people are giving to you,” she said.
“Last year there was this one lady who handed me $2 as she left. Those were probably her last dollars. She told me to use them for next year. I’ll never forget that.”
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: NEED A RIDE? St. Patrick’s Catholic Church is holding its 27th annual Thanksgiving Day dinner from noon to 3 p.m. today. The free traditional turkey dinner is being served in the church’s school hall, 2706 E. Queen. If you live on the North Side and need a ride to the dinner call 487-1325 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. today. Bus service is also available. Bus pick-up will follow this schedule: 11:25 a.m.: Omega House, 1918 W. Chelan 11:35: St. Andrew’s Court, 1815 N. Post 11:40: Our Place, 1018 N. Elm 11:45: Fahey Apartments, 1523 W. Dean and 1411 W. Dean 11:50: Park Tower, 217 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Noon: Delaney, 242 W. Riverside 12:05: Cathedral Plaza, 1120 W. Sprague 12:15: O’Malley Apartments, 707 E. Mission 12:15: Mid-City Senior Center, 1017 W. First 1:30-2 p.m.: House of Charity, 9 W. Main Return buses leave St. Patrick’s between 1-1:30 p.m.