PORT ANGELES — Although the weather outside was cold on Thanksgiving Day, inside Queen of Angels Catholic Church there was only warmth: warm meals, warm smiles and warm calls of “happy Thanksgiving!”
Queen of Angeles hosted a free community Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday.
It was its third Thanksgiving dinner since COVID, according to volunteer assistant coordinator Julie Myers.
This year, Queen of Angels was prepared with 36 turkeys, each between 22 and 24 pounds, and 70 pounds of boneless ham, according to volunteer coordinator Catherine German.
In addition to meat, Myers said the holiday meal included “all the fixings.”
There were dishes full of corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes and more.
There also were drinks — coffee, lemonade and water — and three different kinds of pie with the option for whipped cream.
Myers said she would roughly estimate that each meal cost between $10 to $15 a plate.
With hundreds enjoying these Thanksgiving meals each year, the costs quickly add up.
Attendance
Over the last two years, Myers estimated that the event has seen 500 to 800 people.
Before COVID, however, she said the event would draw up to 2,000 people.
Those who come to enjoy the meals are from all walks of life.
The event is split between three rooms — the main gym, set up with rows of tables for the majority of attendees.
Then there is the St. Anne room for the elderly and those with disabilities, who may need more assistance with their meals.
The final room is for the kids — complete with activities to keep them entertained when the joy of eating is over.
People aren’t required to eat in the building, however.
Volunteers also package to-go meals and send them with people, or the volunteers will deliver the meals anywhere between Port Angeles and Sequim.
Before Thanksgiving, about 60 meals had been pre-ordered for delivery.
However, there are always a lot more requests the day of the event, Myers said.
Donations, volunteers
Queen of Angels runs a fundraising campaign mainly within the parish to help cover the costs of the event.
In addition to monetary donations, Myers said a lot of people, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, often will donate food.
“Everybody loves to help,” Myers said.
The Thanksgiving day event is coordinated by the German Real Estate Team and the meals were cooked by the Knights of Columbus, Myers said.
Many of these volunteers donate their time days in advance of the actual event, she added.
In addition to cooks and coordinators, there are volunteers to serve, help carry plates, package to-go meals, greet people, keep any eye on things and clean up.
“It’s a collaboration of everyone,” Father Naresh Gali said.
Between 40 and 50 volunteers are required to make the event possible, Myers said, and more than 75 percent of the volunteers are parishioners.
However, despite the ties this meal has to Queen of Angels — it is held in the church building, after all — Myers said “we’re not here to push church. It’s just something we love to do.”
The volunteers exemplify this ethos with the smiles and joy they showered on everyone who walked in the building.
“It’s about serving others without any expectations,” volunteer server Johnny Gravette said.
Gravette has been serving at this event off and on for about 10 years, he said, and every day he wakes up and asks God how he can be helpful and serve others.
“Life doesn’t get any better than this,” he said.
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
Colorado resident Michael Clougher, right, hugs his sister, Sandy Mangino of Port Angeles as they serve pie and whipped cream to Bill Kirkman of Port Angeles during the free Thanksgiving meal at Queen of Angels Thursday afternoon. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
