NORTHUMBERLAND — SuAnn Hinkle has done it for about 15 years. This was Rhonda Fisher’s 10th. Between them, they masterminded at least 500 free turkey dinners Thursday. All the trimmings, too.
Hinkle has been preparing free Thanksgiving meals at Trinity United Methodist Church in Northumberland. This year, she used 14 turkeys, 80 pounds of sweet potatoes and countless amounts of other ingredients to make the meal that more than 200 people enjoyed, some at the church and some by way of free delivery.
“It was very good, all of it,” said Linda Salter, of Northumberland. Her mother, Ruth Campbell, of Sunbury, was there enjoying the labor-free deal after making her own Thanksgiving dinners for so many years.
“It’s a little too much for her now,” Salter said. “So this is great.”
Her husband, Bob Salter, is only too happy to help out in the church kitchen.
In Sunbury, Fisher’s crew used 35 turkeys and served more than 300 people at 132 S. Second St. They also delivered about 100 meals to individual homes and apartments.
Both Hinkle and Fisher would be the first to say they couldn’t have done it without devoted volunteers and generous donations.
Their dedication, remarkable as it is, is duplicated many times at other sites in the Valley — at Danville’s Knights of Columbus Council, Watsontown’s First Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Shamokin Dam Fire Company, All Saints Episcopal Church in Selinsgrove and First Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg, to name a few.
“It’s really awesome they can do this every year and keep it going even though the economy is just about gone,” said 21-year-old Jeff Eisenhart, who was enjoying Fisher’s feast in Sunbury with his mother, Crystal Barry.
In past years, Barry said, they would go to her parents’ home for Thanksgiving.
“But they aren’t doing so well this year, so we thought we would come here,” she said. “I think they’re doing a great job ... even with prizes and games and things for kids.”
Fisher and her nearly 80 volunteers — who have become known as Rhonda’s Angels — offer much more than just a meal. The prepare breakfast as well as the noon turkey dinner. They offer door prizes, free canned and packaged food to take away, free clothes for adults and children, free blankets, and games and toys for families to enjoy together. There was even a Thanksgiving video theater.
Ann Rhinehart, assistant general manager of Damon’s Grill in Lewisburg, brought 10 of her staff to help cook and serve. But it’s more than that. It’s a time of mingling and fellowship, too.
“It’s a good experience for the young volunteers,” she said, “to come here and learn what people really go through who struggle on a daily basis.”
Erin Wirt, 20, of Sunbury, said it was “an eye-opener” for her and gave her a good feeling to “give to other people what we already have.”
A tired but satisfied Fisher tallied her success in meals served, delivered and volunteers willing to do it again next year.
“It was a long day, but it was worth it,” she said.
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Matthew Harris / The Daily Item
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Volunteers across Valley prepare, serve free meals
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