The exchange only lasts a few minutes, a simple handing over of a hot meal in a to-go container.
But to the volunteer drivers for the Johnson County Thanksgiving Banquet, each interaction with a homebound resident is a chance to truly celebrate and give thanks.
“Folks are truly grateful. A lot of them don’t realize that this is something they can get on Thanksgiving, and they welcome our capacity to do that,” said George Dodd, a member of the banquet committee.
As preparations continue for the free annual banquet, organizers want to ensure that every county resident who needs a hot Thanksgiving dinner gets one, even if they can’t leave their homes.
The turkeys have been ordered, the mashed potatoes and stuffing are ready to be made and the desserts are being planned. More than 900 people are expected to be fed at the banquet, but organizers are emphasizing signing up as many homebound recipients as they can this year.
“There are people who physically can’t make it each year, either from age or disability, they might not have gas for their car,” Dodd said. “We feel like we’re still missing folks.”
The Johnson County Thanksgiving Banquet will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 24 at Scott Hall on the Johnson County Fairgrounds.
The event has been a county tradition since 2008, when church and civic leaders wanted to create a healing event to help the ailing community following that summer’s devastating floods.
Since then, thousands of people have received a meal.
“People come for lots of reasons — some folks are just lonely, some want the companionship, and some don’t have the ability to cook a meal on their own,” Dodd said. “Folks do seem to enjoy themselves.”
Though founded as an opportunity to come together as neighbors and friends, the banquet leaders wanted to make sure to help the elderly and those unable to travel.
Deliveries have become a significant share of the total meals served by the banquet.
So far, only 10 residents have signed up for a meal to be delivered to them. Delivery is available to any county resident who cannot leave their home on Thanksgiving to come the banquet.
A majority of people usually call in for the service at the last minute, and typically volunteers will take meals to more than 300 people.
But organizers are particularly concerned about the slow response this year, Dodd said.
“People typically wait to the last minute. We just want to remind people that if they do want delivery, they can call or email, and we’ll get it done,” he said.
The banquet committee has partnered with Johnson County Senior Services in the hopes of expanding the delivery portion. If people currently get Meals on Wheels or other assistance though the organization, then they can ask senior services to be added to the delivery list.
People can also call a special hotline to be added, Dodd said.
Signing up more deliveries is one of the last issues facing organizers before the banquet. They have enlisted a small army of 300 volunteers to help with preparation, decorating and clean-up.
Dodd has even had to start turning volunteers away, as every possible slot has been filled, he said.
“We could do the banquet with a lot fewer volunteers, but people like to get involved so we break it up into shifts and give people different jobs,” he said. “We have volunteers from 6 years old to 80.”
Donations have been steadily coming in over the past three weeks. Banquet leadership has not quite received the $5,000 needed to stage the banquet, but with funds saved from past years, they will be able to cover all of the costs, Dodd said.
Organizers are still taking contributions, though. People also can bake a dessert to be served at the dinner, and drop them off between 5 and 8 p.m. Nov. 23, the night before Thanksgiving, at Scott Hall.
“We want lots of people to come. We’ll have lots and lots of food, and we want them there to eat it,” Dodd said.
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Johnson County Thanksgiving Banquet
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 24
Where: Scott Hall, Johnson County fairgrounds.
What: A full turkey dinner will be served free of charge. No reservations are required. Delivery to homebound residents will also be available, though arrangements need to be made in advance.
How to sign up: If you would like to register for homebound delivery, please call 317-662-0199. You can send an email to [email protected].
How to help: Donations can be made through PayPal at Johnson County Banquets, or by cash or check sent to Johnson County Banquets, P.O. Box 207, Franklin, IN 46131. People can also bake a dessert and drop them off between 5 and 8 p.m. Nov. 23 at Scott Hall.
More information is available by calling or at the group’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/JohnsonCoBanquets
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