'Tis the season of giving for Havre Community Thanksgiving Dinner

The Havre Community Thanksgiving Dinner provides a good opportunity for the community to come together, give back and grow as a community, organizer Debi Rhines said Wednesday.

The dinner is set for Thanksgiving Day, next Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Jude Parish Center.

Rhines said some conflicting reports are out there as to when the dinner started, but she believes this is the 27th year. Rhines has been chair of the event since 2011.

"It was born out of an idea that people should have a place to go. No matter who you are, where you are," Rhines said.

A generous anonymous donor provided the first turkey dinner for the community, Rhines said, adding that they are on their second donor now, who also is anonymous, and she is "very, very grateful to him and his family for giving us the resources - the financial resources - to put this dinner on."

While Rhines is the chair, she said it is a team effort. Her team consists of Gus Sharp, Peter Bruni and a small number of regular volunteers who come back every year to help out.

Sharp is in charge of delivering meals to families around Havre.

Bruni is a former chef from the military and Rhines said he has "expert skills in food preparation."

Rhines said she and Bruni start at 6 in the morning on Thanksgiving Day. The first volunteers show up at 8 a.m. and at 9 a.m. they start boxing up the dinners which are then delivered. By 11 a.m., the dining room is set up and ready for dining service and it is given one last look over before serving begins.

The doors are locked at 2 p.m. and no new diners are allowed in, Rhines said, and they don't allow anyone to take their meals to go. They also discourage people from taking any food home as well, Rhines added, because it is not just about food service, but the fellowship as well.

"We really encourage people to be part of that family," she said. "You know, bring your family to the table and let's all have a conversation of love and caring. It's a great experience."

Last year, Rhines said, 833 meals were served at the dinner and they usually plan for 900 meals. Rhines added that any left-over food is taken to the Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen.

Of the 833 meals, the volunteers delivered 420.

Volunteers are a big part of the success that drives the Community Dinner.

Rhines said they can assist with food prep, table setup, cutting pies, boxing up meals, bussing tables, washing dishes, serving food, cleaning and many other jobs. She said that every year they ask for a musician or musicians to come in and play for the people.

"I am not opposed to anybody bringing in their guitar. I am not opposed to anyone coming and sharing some form of their talent with the people who are eating dinner," she added.

Last year, Rhines said, she had 105 volunteers come out to help and that was enough people to cover the various duties at the dinner.

The dinner is free but sometimes people feel guilty and leave money behind, Rhines said.

"That money is in turn either given to the Salvation Army or the Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen," Rhines added. "Or if there is a pastor or minister in the dining room at the time, I know all our churches in Havre will put the money to good use for their ministry. So people who leave money, we pay it forward in some other way."

The Community Dinner is open to everyone and Rhines said they get people from all over. In the past people have come people from Turner, Big Sandy, Canada and Chinook.

Rhines said she likes seeing the community come together and to meet new people.

"It's just been, for me, very rewarding to be a part of something so wonderful," she added. "I feel very grateful for all the things I have in my life."

Rhines said she would like to thank all the volunteers - returning and new - as well as the staff members of the Havre Senior Citizens Center who take all the delivery orders. Rhines said the last order for delivery can be called in by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21. People who want a turkey dinner delivered need to call 265-5464.

Rhines said people receiving a delivery need to be home between the hours of 9 and 11 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. Otherwise, the food comes back to the kitchen and is put in a cooler and is sent home with volunteers at the end of the day.

Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods bakes the turkeys, pies and rolls. Rhines said they are not able to cook the turkeys at the Parish Center, but they do make the stuffing, gravy and mashed potatoes there.

Rhines said people interested in signing up to volunteer can call her at 265-2737 and leave a message.