Volunteer food servers Arlene McClanahan, from right, Bonnie La Foe, and Patti Seymour load up plates during the La Cygne Community Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 16. Organizers said more than 500 people were served during the annual event.
Story and photos by Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com
The recipe for the annual free La Cygne Community Dinner served on Saturday, Nov. 16, was pretty simple.
Twenty-five 20-pound turkeys, 150 pounds of potatoes, more than 150 pounds of canned green beans, 14 bags of rolls, a few gallons of homemade gravy, and desserts donated by several churches. Finally, and this is the most important ingredient, a group of dedicated volunteers.
The tradition of the pre-Thanksgiving community dinner in La Cygne began nearly a quarter century ago by Arlene and Daryl Ramsey. Originally served at the La Cygne Elementary School in mid-November, the dinner later migrated. The Good Samaritan organization at the La Cygne Christian Church took it over for a while.
It migrated again about five years to the kitchen of the new addition to the La Cygne Library during the COVID pandemic when it was takeout only. And over the last few years the La Cygne Christian Church has been its home.
Gentry Stevens, left, Boyd and Liam Newman, volunteers from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, served desserts made by volunteers from the five participating churches.
This year, like previous years, people in La Cygne, Linn Valley and surrounding areas flocked to share the meal in the church sanctuary, which had been converted temporarily into a dining room.
Rosemary Long, who has organized the meal since it has been in the church, said the serving line prepared more than 500 meals this year, including more than 125 takeout meals.
A multi-denominational event, the dinner is supported by several area churches, including Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, La Cygne United Methodist Church, Linn Valley Community Church, and Calvary Baptist Church. During the three-hour span the meal was served, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the churches provide music or brief religious talks about every half hour.
Long said that while the dinner relied on contributions from the city of La Cygne and businesses in the past, it has become more self-funded recently as more donations from diners have come in. She added that donations received on Saturday will fund most of what is needed for next year’s community dinner.
The community dinner gave area residents the opportunity to visit during their meal.
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