Extend your family at a community Thanksgiving dinner

For people interested in gathering as a community to celebrate Thanksgiving, two dinners are planned in the Fox Valley area that will serve free meals with the help of volunteers, businesses and local organizations.

Lazarus House in St. Charles will host its annual Thanksgiving meal at the Tri-Cities Corps Salvation Army, 1710 S. Seventh Ave. in St. Charles. The dinner runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26, with dining beginning at noon.

Lazarus House serves homeless people with emergency shelter, outreach programs and case management. It has been hosting the event since it opened in the late 1990s.

“It was apparent that there were people who just needed a place to belong during the holidays,” Liz Eakins, executive director of Lazarus House, said. “It really is a community celebration of neighbors.”

While those living at the Lazarus House shelter attend the event, there are also scores of community members who enjoy the dinner. It's open to everyone, Eakins said, and it has grown over the years with about 400 or more in attendance.

“There are a lot of people who are there who, even though they have a family dinner later in the day, want to come and sit alongside people who they may not even know and develop new friendships and relationships,” Eakins said.

Lazarus House volunteer coordinator Donna Bauer of Batavia has been attending the event for nine years. She'll be bringing her husband and mother to the dinner.

“It is very much a community effort here at Lazarus House and what makes it so special is that when you're a community family, you want to celebrate holidays together,” Bauer said. “It's the basis of Thanksgiving — bringing folks together.”

One of the highlights of the event, which draws people from as far as Elgin and Aurora, is the sharing of side dishes that Bauer calls a “great culinary experience.” You may bring a side dish to share, but it is not required.

“You get this whole plethora of family recipes that you would never have gotten an opportunity to experience,” Bauer said. “We've got turkey and gravy and stuffing, but you might have a wonderful enchilada soup on the side.”

The dinner will feature local jazz singer Jacqui Miller who has performed for the last three years.

“It's wonderful background music and she has a very powerful voice,” said Eakins. “We're so glad to have her.”

There's also a children's room where kids can color Thanksgiving pages or work a puzzle.

Members of the community are asked to come and enjoy the meal without a sense of obligation to serve.

“The day isn't about titles or backgrounds,” Eakins said. “It's just coming together to celebrate.”

Anyone who would like to attend the event, bring a dish to pass, and/or volunteer should email holidays@lazarushouseonline.com or call Beth McCartney at (630) 587-2144.

Thanksgiving in Elgin

Meanwhile, the First United Methodist Church, at 216 E. Highland Ave. in Elgin, is opening its doors for the Elgin Community Thanksgiving Dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26. The dinner is sponsored by Jeff Turner, owner of the Elgin-based In the Neighborhood Deli and ITN Fresh (at Gail Borden Public Library); the Elgin Salvation Army; Shales McNutt Construction Company; and the United Way of Elgin.

The first event was held in 2008 at the Hemmens Auditorium. It has grown over the years and now serves well over a thousand people, including the homeless and community members. It's a great way to extend your family, according to Turner, who is this year's organizer.

“We used to get together with my whole family and my wife's family,” Turner said. “Now we do this Thanksgiving dinner. My family has grown from 20-25 for Thanksgiving to 1,500.”

An organization called Food for Friends donated 1,000 pounds of turkey for the event. Workers at the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin will cook and prepare the meat for serving.

“They do all the hard work for us,” Turner said. “We just pick them up and heat them.”

Turner will be “knee deep” in mashed potatoes, he said, making about 400 pounds. He'll also make stuffing and oversee about 200 volunteers working three separate shifts.

“We have a team who makes all the sides, we have people set tables, roll silverware, and we have jobs for kids,” Turner said. “They color place mats so everyone in the room has a hand-colored place mat decorated by a child.”

Turner purchased the food at cost from local vendor, Jeff Villareal, and received a large donation from Mike Doyen of Doyen Law Group to cover costs for the dinner. Turner is accepting monetary donations for future dinners, which include the “Have a Heart” Valentine's Day Community Dinner. He hopes to raise $10,000.

The Thanksgiving dinner is in honor of Anthony Pedot, a co-organizer of the event who is hospitalized and cannot attend.

“We're just all very sad about Anthony and praying for a full recovery,” Turner said.

Volunteers are needed to cover the 9-11 a.m. shift and the 1-3 p.m. shift. To volunteer, call (847) 888-9486.

If you go

<b>Lazarus House Community Thanksgiving Feast</b>

When: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26; dining begins at noon

Where: The Salvation Army, 1710 S. Seventh Ave., St. Charles

Cost: Free, but donations of side dishes are accepted

Details: <a href="http://www.lazarushouseonline.com">www.lazarushouseonline.com</a>; (630) 587-2144, ext. 115

<b>Elgin Community Thanksgiving meal</b>

When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26

Where: First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Ave., Elgin

Cost: Free, but donations are accepted

Details: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/communitythanksgivingdinner/?fref=ts">facebook.com/communitythanksgivingdinner/</a>; (847) 888-9486