Area churches offer cornucopia of Thanksgiving bounty

Got turkey?

With area churches running food drives and packing baskets of turkey and trimmings for families in need, there should no turkey-less home in the Fox Valley this Thanksgiving.

But that won't be the case.

Unfortunately, there will always be families who would like to have a traditional menu, but are unable to make the food it on their own.

People who don't have a holiday-stocked pantry or a church gift basket do have something else they can use for a Thanksgiving meal like Grandma used to make -- an invitation to dinner at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elgin.

This is the 24th consecutive year parishioners have hosted the community in their church home --with a good deal of help from area businesses, restaurants, schools and even other churches.

Remember where you celebrated Thanksgiving in 1983?

Jerry McCreight and Doug Carlson do.

They know exactly where they were that year, and every Turkey Day since -- in the St. Joseph kitchen, making stuffing.

The two men basically run the kitchen, said Sharon McGill, project coordinator for the past three years, but "it's such an effort by so many people," she adds.

It takes a small army to make enough turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, extra veggies, rolls, cranberry jelly and -- of course -- a slice of pie for each of the 800 to 1,000 guests expected again this Thursday.

The volunteers even deliver, but only for homebound individuals.

Last year, about 50 people took advantage of that offer, McGill said, "but we used to have considerably more. I would like to see more. I have more drivers than meals to deliver."

Homebound persons without holiday plans can still request a free meal by calling McGill today at (224) 587-3579.

People who want to feast at the church should show up at the church, at 272 Division St., from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

And if there are any more Good Samaritans out there who'd like to volunteer for this healthful, heartwarming event, call Leo and Tina at (847) 697-7616 today.

Feeding the hungry for the holidays is a responsibility many churches are happy to accept.

But at least one Elgin congregation has taken on the challenge of feeding and clothing people every week of the year.

Of course, the various soup kitchens generously prepare a meal each week, too, but for families who would rather do their own cooking, Church in the Word picks up a bounty of foodstuffs each week from Trader Joe's and makes it available to the public.

At no charge, "shoppers" can even get organic meats and produce, along with breads, salads, milk, eggs and cheese.

"We're talking top-shelf stuff," said Sue Swett, who coordinates the church's benevolence ministry.

"It's amazing all the stuff that they give us."

Swett said volunteers from Church in the Word drive to the Algonquin store every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and each time they come back with a vanload of goods for the church's huge walk-in refrigerator and pair of freezers.

"From what we can tell, they pull things off the shelves two days before it's going to expire," she said, "so when we pick it up, it hasn't even reached the expiration date."

Alison Mochizuki, director of national publicity for the Trader Joe's chain, confirmed Swett's observation.

"We do pull our products off the shelves before the code date," Mochizuki said, adding that it often occurs three or more days before expiration. "The items that we deem safe to consume, we donate."

Swett said church volunteers sort through the goodies and choose items to fill baskets for the 15 to 20 families who reserve them each week.

Many are from outside the church; they pick up the freebies after the 10 a.m. Sunday morning service.

Others prefer to do their own "shopping."

"Anybody can come and take what's left over," Swett said. "There's usually quite a lot."

Enough even for one of the local soup kitchens to get leftovers -- whatever remains after that goes to area food banks.

That may soon change, though.

Beginning in January, the church plans to open a second weekly window -- Monday nights -- for people to come and get what they need.

Besides foods, they also can choose from a small selection of donated clothing -- much of it new -- plus shoes, books and household items.

Church in the Word, at 430 Airport Road, also serves occasionally as a distribution point for the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

"They come out with literally a truckload of food," Swett said.

"We're required to give it all away."

Now five years old, the benevolence ministry requires a regular commitment from a great number of people, Swett said, but it satisfies church members' desire to help those who struggle.

"People right here in our own backyard are going hungry. There's a verse in the Bible, Matthew 25:35-40, that says, 'When I was hungry you fed me; when I was naked you clothed me.'

"It's that verse that we use for the theme of the ministry."

For more information about the benevolence ministry at Church in the Word, call the church office at (847) 658-8888.

Whether you're with family or friends Thursday, whether you're making new friends at St. Joseph or enjoying turkey alone in your home, Happy Thanksgiving to you!

And a special salute to the sailors from Great Lakes Naval Reserve enjoying the holiday with feasting and free calls home at Springbrook Community Church in Huntley.

Whatever our circumstances, we all have so much to be grateful for, don't we?