Thanksgiving is still nearly two months away, but for organizers of the Johnson County Thanksgiving Banquet, now is the crucial time to ensure they have enough turkey, stuffing, potatoes and other fixings to feed more than 1,200 people throughout the community.
Preparations have been ongoing to put on the annual banquet, which has been bringing people together over a hot meal since 2008. The community will gather from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 28 at Scott Hall on the Johnson County fairgrounds for fellowship and to enjoy a meal together.
Now organizers are reaching out looking for donations to ensure the meal can feed everyone who needs it, as well as for volunteers to help serve, prepare and clean up after the banquet.
And they want everyone to know they’re invited.
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“Our biggest challenge year to year is making sure people know we’re having this banquet. We don’t want anyone to fall through the cracks. Thanksgiving Day, businesses are closed. We don’t want people sitting at home hungry,” said George Dodd, a board member of Johnson County Banquets, the nonprofit that organizers the event.
The banquet was established in 2008, when church and civic leaders wanted to create a healing event to help the ailing community following that summer’s devastating floods. Local resident Pat Thacker intended to cook for people who lost their kitchens in the floods, and that idea grew to include about 600 meals that first year.
As following years brought recession and economic strife, more and more people attended.
Once again on Thanksgiving, organizers will open up Scott Hall for the banquet. They encourage everyone to come together under one roof to eat, Dodd said.
But if people are unable to get out of their houses, carry-out dinners are available to be picked up. Volunteers will also deliver to the homebound.
The goal is to make sure no one is hungry on Thanksgiving, Dodd said.
To do so, they need donations from the community. The meal costs $5,000 to put on, and in the past 11 years, the community has stepped up regularly to support the banquet, he said. Individuals, businesses and other nonprofits all contribute to the event.
Every month, Madison & Main Market Cafe puts out a tip jar and donates the proceeds they collect to a Johnson County nonprofit group. For October, those tips will go toward the Thanksgiving banquet.
While organizers always appreciate people willing to help, financial donations are the most useful way to do so, Dodd said.
“People always want to help out and donate food. But in order to ensure quality, when people ask what they can do, we ask for monetary donations, because we have arrangements with various vendors who give us discounts because we’re a nonprofit,” he said.
All the donations go toward providing dinner, desserts and beverages for the approximately 1,100 people who will come to the banquet, get carry-out or have meals delivered. But the impact extends beyond Thanksgiving day. Any food that is left over is provided to Rocklane Christian Church and its outreach ministry, which distributes food to the needy in Marion County.
Last year, with extra funding that was donated to the banquet, organizers were able to make a donation to Johnson County Senior Services to help fund meal delivery services the group provides throughout the year.
“Our mission has always been to do more than just the Thanksgiving banquet. Last year, for the first time, we were able to support another charity,” Dodd said.
But while funding is necessary to put on the banquet, the event could not go on without the small army of volunteers who help do everything from setting up tables to serving people meals to delivering to those who are homebound and can’t get out on Thanksgiving.
There are 267 volunteer slots for the banquet. As of Tuesday, 187 volunteers are signed up, Dodd said.
“That’s a good thing. It cuts down on the time that we need to worry about finding those volunteers,” he said.
Spots are still open, though. People can sign up to for dining room preparation, delivery preparation, serving and clean-up, among other jobs.
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Johnson County Thanksgiving Banquet
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 28
Where: Scott Hall at 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; arrangements should be made in advance.
How to make arrangements: For homebound delivery, call (317) 662-0199 or email [email protected].
Donations: Can be made by cash or check sent to Johnson County Banquets, P.O. Box 207, Franklin, IN 46131
Volunteer: People are needed to help with preparation, serving and clean-up at the banquet. To do so, email [email protected].
Information: (317) 662-0199 or Facebook.com/JohnsonCoBanquets
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