The Devils Lake Kiwanis Club will be providing the Lake Region with a complete home cooked turkey dinner for Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day, November 23. Many members of the local Kiwanis Club give up their own Thanksgiving holiday to help feed the community. They’ve done this for decades.
History
It began years ago when a local restaurant owner noticed there was nowhere in town for people to go out to eat on Thanksgiving Day. Everything was closed for the holiday. So she opened her heart and her tiny restaurant, The Home Cafe, which was located below street level at the corner of 4th Ave. and 3rd Street, below what is now Nellie’s Bar.
What a success it was! So much so that soon the little cafe was too small and the owners’ resources not equal to the challenge of feeding the many who came. That’s about the time the local Kiwanis Club stepped in to help out and through the years have fed thousands a hearty, traditional Thanksgiving dinner in various locations, most recently at the Devils Lake Senior Center and now at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
They added home delivered meals to the congregate dining-in-person meals when they were located at the Senior Center, using the volunteer experience from Meals on Wheels and they continue that service today. Last year it is estimated that combined in-person meals, to go meals, delivered meals and volunteers they served almost 500 people!
Today’s
The meal is roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and pie all for a free will offering. The donations will offset the cost of the meal. Delivery reservations must be made by Monday, November 20 – call Shane at 701-351-9186. Bring a non-perishable, kid-friendly snack to help support underprivileged children during the holidays.
At the KC Hall on Thanksgiving, the home delivered meals will start to go out at about 10 a.m. – if you would like to help with those deliveries make sure to be at the KC Hall no later than 9:30 a.m.
Once all the deliveries are made then in-person dining and to-go meals will start at about 11 or 11:30 a.m.
Who comes?
Who comes to the Kiwanis Thanksgiving Dinner? Individuals and families from all around the community come to the KC Hall to enjoy a sit-down meal. People of all ages are welcome! Last year two truck drivers passing through on US Highway 2 heard about it on the radio, found their way to the KC Hall in downtown Devils Lake and enjoyed having a good old fashioned Thanksgiving dinner.
The Devils Lake Kiwanis Club currently has about 50 members. Those who are unable to help with the cooking, deliveries or serving help in other ways, like by donating to help pay for the supplies for the meal.
Volunteers are always welcome to help delivering meals, in the serving line, setting tables, cleaning up and resetting place settings or doing dishes in the kitchen. There are many ways you can give or help on this busy day.
