BEAVER SPRINGS — From her sickbed, Rhonda Fisher is desperately trying to pull together the annual free Thanksgiving dinner she’s thrown for Sunbury residents for the past nine years.
“I can’t let people down,” she said. “They rely on it and look forward to it.”
Fisher had back surgery on Thursday, just two weeks before the Thanksgiving dinner that last year served 400 people.
“They’re like an extension of my family,” she said.
Thirty turkeys are on hand, she said, but she still needs hams and desserts, along with funds for the incidentals.
“I need to buy milk, eggs, spices, bread and broth for the filling, the usual last-minute items,” she said.
The first year she sponsored the dinner, Fisher remembers, 97 people came. She operated the Market House Cafe in Sunbury at that point, and she served the free meal at her restaurant. Now, the dinner is held at Special Occasions, 132 S. Second St.
Fisher understands that money is tight for a lot of people this year. She’s been out of work for several months following an injury at her job.
“I really need some help,” she said. “Manpower is the big thing.”
In past years, over 75 volunteers helped her. So far this year, she said, she has about 45 volunteers ready to work.
“One lady from New York called me,” she said. “Her mother lives in Sunbury, and last year she and her kids came and helped. One of the kids reminded her to call her grandma and get them signed up.”
Two elderly widowed women are also ready to help her again, she said. They need to feel needed, she believes.
Another woman who showed up last year with a bag full of hats, gloves and mittens she knitted has already told Fisher she’ll be back this year.
“It’s just a joy to have them all here,” she said.
She also needs help on Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving, to set up at Special Occasions, and she needs volunteers willing to make deliveries for folks unable to come to the dinner.
“I usually have to make several trips from my house to Sunbury to transport the pots and utensils and everything,” she said. “I think I’ll need help to do that, too.”
A couple of years ago, Fisher decided to serve a continental breakfast to early arrivals.
“People started coming at 7:30 in the morning,” she said. “They want to be sure they don’t miss it.”
To pass the time, she said, there will be games and movies.
In addition to the food, Fisher also has blankets and clothing to be given away, and she’s always looking for more items
Anyone who wants to help Fisher with donations of food, funds or help may call her at 658-2634 or 765-3850. Donations can be mailed to her at 1164 Middle Creek Road, Beaver Springs, Pa. 17812.
On Thanksgiving Day, Fisher will start the day with a continental breakfast from 8-11 a.m. Dinner will be served at noon. Meals will be delivered to folks unable to attend the dinner starting around 10:30 a.m. Call 988-5340 that day for delivery.
News
Related Photos
-
File photo
Discussion
Thanksgiving dinner must go on in Sunbury
Ailing organizer determined to put on free feed
- News
-
-
Firefighter union may char pacts
LEWISBURG — Paid members of the William Cameron Engine Company have voted to unionize under the International Association of Fire Fighters, a move believed to stem from internal tension between paid and volunteer members of the department, according to various sources.
-
M-W rule on drug testing is area’s boldest
MIDDLEBURG — Midd-West is the only school district in the Central Susquehanna Valley that requires students interested in participating in extra-curricular activities to agree to submit to random drug testing.
-
New shelter exec gets busy
When Cathy Teisher stepped down as executive director of Haven Ministries, in March, Pamela Steffen stepped up.
-
Tax boost could bring $120G pad
The Lewisburg Area School District will seek a 3.2 percent real estate tax increase for the 2012-13 school year, the maximum allowed under the index, under a proposed budget now available for public comment.
-
Fire has burned beneath Centralia for 50 years
CENTRALIA — Fifty years ago on Sunday, a fire at the town dump ignited an exposed coal seam, setting off a chain of events that eventually led to the demolition of nearly every building in Centralia — a whole community of 1,400 simply gone.
-
'To Do': Montandon Community Days
MONTANDON - Montandon Community Days will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 26 along Railroad Street.
-
California’s Coronado named nation’s best beach
CORONADO, Calif. (AP) — Like a Hollywood star, Coronado’s 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand.
That’s one of the reasons why Coronado — flanked by the iconic hotel featured in Marilyn Monroe’s 1958 film “Some Like It Hot” — has been named the No. 1 beach in the United States in the 2012 survey by “Dr. Beach” professor Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida International University. -
Typical CEO made $9.6M last year, AP study finds
Profits at big U.S. companies broke records last year, and so did pay for CEOs.
-
Barnstorming cattle badger citizens for beer
BOXFORD, Mass. (AP) — Police say a roving group of cows crashed a small gathering in a Massachusetts town and bullied the guests for their beer.
-
'A Day in Towne' tradition draws crowds to Boalsburg
May 25--For the 148th year, Boalsburg will be the gathering place for regional families to remember all ranks of Armed Forces veterans.
-
Fired Pa. president gets more time to clear office
CALIFORNIA, Pa. (AP) — A judge has canceled a hearing to determine whether California University of Pennsylvania president Angelo Armenti can remove his personal property from his former office, because state officials have given him more time to do so.
- Weird crime of the week: Peddler in pickup scams bargain-hunting meat seeker
- More News Headlines
-
Firefighter union may char pacts
