No one needs to go hungry … and no one needs to be alone.
That’s the message from members of the Oakdale Lions Club, as the group is gearing up for the annual Oakdale Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The meal – open to all – will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23 at the Bianchi Community Center, 110 S. Second Ave., Oakdale.
The Lions Club took over coordinating the longtime Spirit of Oakdale Thanksgiving Dinner a few years ago and Lion Brian Lemons said they are looking forward to hosting the meal once again.
“It’s a community-focused event and it’s for anybody that wants to show up, there is no charge,” Lemons explained. “We will be serving from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.”
The club is also welcoming volunteers to help them out prior to the dinner, with a need for locals to cook turkeys and drop them off at the H-B in the center of town a couple of days ahead of the dinner. Also, the night before help is especially needed, as crews work to peel 300 pounds of potatoes that will be part of the Nov. 23 meal.
There is a volunteer crew that always seems to turn out to help, said Lions Club members, and they welcome everyone in, to volunteer or just to enjoy a hot, homemade Thanksgiving meal.
Members of Scout Troop 43, which the Lions Club sponsors, get involved and Lemons said they also gratefully accept donations of money and can always use more pies to serve for dessert.
“We need the fully cooked, unstuffed turkeys at the H-B by Tuesday evening (Nov. 21); that way they have time to cool before we carve them,” Lemons said.
The turkeys are warmed up on Thursday morning at the Community Center and become the centerpiece of the traditional meal.
“Part of the event is also that we prepare dinners for shut-ins and the CAPS (Citizens Auxiliary Police Services) members deliver them; if you know of someone that needs a dinner, get in touch with the CAPS, Lupe Aguilera, and they can get put on the list,” Lemons said.
Fellow Lion Matt Hanko said the dinner not only helps those in need but also is a great opportunity for getting involved in the community. He recalled seeing youngsters help serve in the past, opening their eyes to the joy of giving.
Lion Tom Orvis said giving back to the community has always been a focus of the group, whether it’s placing the American flags along Oakdale streets on a number of holidays throughout the year or hosting a holiday shopping tour for needy children.
“The reason I do it is to see these people come through; there’s some folks that come here because they have no other option,” Lemons added. “They just want to be part of the community … this brings some warmth and light into their day and that makes me smile.”
The Lions Club took over from the Spirit of Oakdale committee in 2019. There was no event during the COVID year of 2020 and they put it on as a drive-thru dinner in 2021. They returned to in person dining last year in 2022 and will open the doors at the Community Center for dinner again this year.
They will set up tables, peel potatoes and generally prepare the Community Center on Wednesday night, Nov. 22 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., then will start the ovens on Thursday at 5 a.m. to get the turkeys warmed through and make sure all the other fixings are ready to serve as well.
The meal begins at 11 a.m.; the Community Center will open prior to that for people to come in, sit down and visit for a short time before the dinner service begins. The CAPS volunteers will begin delivering the meals to shut-ins about 10 a.m.
“Our typical turnout has been about 450 to 500 people,” Lemons said. “It’s a busy day but it’s a good day.”
For more information or to volunteer or donate, contact Matt Hanko at 209-247-6609.
“It’s called the Spirit of Oakdale for a reason,” added Orvis. “It’s great just to be a part of it. The Lions Club, our focus has always been community service, supporting this community so Oakdale remains the same great town that we all grew up in.”
