Community dinner at Hemmens could use more cash

Cash donations are coming in slower than normal this year for Elgin’s Thanksgiving Community Dinner, but organizer Jeff Turner said he’s expecting a last minute push.

The volunteer ranks are full, with just a few more people needed for the 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. cleanup shift, and Turner has people committed to give almost all the desserts they’ll need.

“We’re still taking donations for desserts,” Turner said. “More important than any of those are the donations, though.” The dinner will only cost about $2,000, Turner said, even though he will cook for 1,500 people. Willow Creek Community Church is donating all the turkeys — significant savings for the organizers.

Turner, who owns In The Neighborhood Deli, plans to serve turkey and dressing, potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, corn, beans and salad. There will also be coffee, lemonade and water to drink plus the contributed desserts.

This is the third year Turner has headed up the community dinner with the help of John Shales of Shales McNutt Construction, the Salvation Army and the United Way.

“I’m evolving this dinner into a community dinner,” Turner said. “It’s not just for homeless or people down on their luck. It’s for the community. I want to build camaraderie between everybody.”

Residents are encouraged to bring children and go down to The Hemmens on Thanksgiving to meet new people and make friends with their fellow residents. The free dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 24 in the lower level of The Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way in Elgin. The next community dinner — Turner is committed to organizing four per year — will be held in February.

These dinners have always taken place for free in the lower level of The Hemmens but City Manager Sean Stegall said this is the type of subsidy that would go away based on his proposed budget to the city council. The Hemmens would be run as a rental facility exactly as a private entity would. Stegall said these dinners could continue in The Hemmens, they would just need to pay the rental fee.

For more information about volunteering or donating to this year’s meal, contact Turner at (847) 888-9486 or itndeli@gmail.com.