CHIMACUM — It may have been raining outside, but it was warm inside as the aromas of Thanksgiving filled the Tri-Area Community Center on Thursday, along with laughter, music and friendly conversations.
The holiday feast had been prepared for 250 guests, with turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and pies. Cream puffs for each table setting were made and donated by 12-year-old Bishop Stoker, each pastry drizzled with chocolate.
This year’s meal was sponsored by a new nonprofit organization.
Elena Lovato-Kraut and Bill Kraut, owners of Hadlock Building Supply; Anita Schumaker, manager of First Security Bank; and Rita Hubbard of Port Townsend Paper formed the nonprofit Holiday Meals to prepare and serve Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to anyone wanting a holiday meal in East Jefferson County.
Lovato-Kraut said the idea started when “everything fell apart with the meals being done.”
“OlyCAP had done the meals for at least 15 years and they were going to drop it 3 years ago,” she said.
A team of volunteers prepares meals to be delivered from the Thanksgiving feast at the Tri-Area Community Center. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)
Along with Hubbard, the Krauts volunteered to organize the Thanksgiving and Christmas events for the past three years.
“We had to go through OlyCAP and a lot of paperwork had to happen,” Lovato-Kraut said. “It took a long time to get people reimbursed. By having our own nonprofit, we can easily get the money to do what we need to do and buy the product when we need it.
“It’s just an easier bookkeeping situation this way,” she said. “It’s the four of us now, along with Kim Redmond. Sunrise and East Jefferson Rotary Clubs are willing to help us out, too,” Lovato-Kraut said.
It takes around $2,500 to put on the feast.
Underwriting donations for the meal came from Jefferson Healthcare and an unnamed sponsor. OlyCAP donated the space. Typically, donations from the door are around $700.
Volunteer cook John Voss led the food service at the Tri-Area Community Center in Chimacum. Over 250 traditional Thanksgiving meals were prepared for those eating at the center in addition to pre-ordered deliveries and take-out containers. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)
Food was plentiful. Pane d’Amore donated rolls, Farm’s Reach Cafe and Chimacum Cafe donated pumpkin pies, $200 in food came from the Chimacum Corner Farmstand and QFC donated bags for all the to-go orders.
John Foss, the cook from last year, volunteered his expertise again to prepare the meal and organize the kitchen. All the food was prepared at the Chimacum School District kitchen.
The group planned for 150 on-site diners, 85 planned deliveries and additional meals to-go in take-out containers. In just the first hour, 30 containers left the building.
“The bus isn’t running today so many people can’t get here. We are taking the meals to them,” Lovato-Kraut said.
There was a small crisis an hour into serving when the kitchen ran out of whipped cream for the pies. A volunteer rushed off to QFC to replenish the supply.
Many hands helped prepare the meal: Vicky Miller, Cher Albright, Helene Paneyko, Bob Segui, Anita Schmucker and her family, and Violet Nelson. East Jefferson Interact students set the tables. The Nordland Garden Club donated the table decorations. Several people donated apple pies as a surprise giveaway treat. Barb Dawson and Bob Longmire contributed music for the occasion.
“It has been running really smoothly all day,” Lovato-Kraut said.
After the dinner, Lovato-Kraut planned to go home to finish preparing a Thanksgiving meal for her family. Before she arrived the center Thursday morning, she got up early to put her bird in the oven.
“My mom is supposed to baby-sit it while I’m gone,” she said.
“I do a lot of volunteering and my kids, boys 15 and 18, always end up with what’s left over.
“I really wanted to make that extra effort this year, saying they are my priority.”
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
