By Josh LaBella
Voice Reporter
For the eighth year in a row, the First Congregational Church of West Haven is hosting its Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, and they are looking for help.
The meal, open to all, will run from noon to 1:30 on Thanksgiving Day. A course of turkey, green beans, dressing, carrots, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, rolls, and dessert will be served at 464 Campbell Ave.
According to the dinner coordinator, Bill Ewry, last year’s dinner served 271 meals. He said it was due to the generosity of the community.
“This was possible with the help of many people,” said Ewry. “The Savin Rock Roasting Co. supplied the turkey. The University of New Haven supplied the mash potatoes and many helping hands. Many helping hands, with the help of monetary donations, prepared the dishes for the delicious meal.”
Ewry said the Church is once again looking for assistance. He said it could come in the form of donating a seasonal pie, preparing or serving the meal, or helping with cleanup. Pies will be collected on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of Thanksgiving week.
Anybody interested in contributing can contact Bill Ewry by calling him at (203) 933-6291 or by emailing bill.fccwh@sbcglobal.net.
While this is the eighth such dinner under the current auspices, the Community Thanksgiving Dinner began almost three decades ago with several congregations getting together to serve the city’s disadvantaged and those without a place to go.
The dinner was under the direction of the Rev. Arthur Yost, who was pastor of First and Wesley Methodist Church on Center Street. The Outreach program eventually branched out into other endeavors and got to the point a new organization, the one now currently operating the dinner, took over.