Novemebr 15, 2017
Sharing the feast
Around Town Operation Food Search introduces afterschool meal program. P.4
Community Voices By Rebecca Zoll. P.2
School
Hazelwood elementary students paint rocks to spread positivity. P.8
Food Photo courtesy Lynn Segura Diners and volunteers take part in a previous St. Ferdinand’s Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church located at 1765 Charbonier Road in Florissant. This year’s dinner will take place on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23.
St. Ferdinand Thanksgiving Dinner continues annual tradition of providing a meal to the most vulnerable in the community A Friendsgiving feast. P.9
By Charlotte Beard For the 18th year the St. Ferdinand Thanksgiving Dinner (SFTD) continues its mission – “a parish organization which brings together volunteers from area churches to serve a free, Thanksgiving Day dinner to the community. We invite all faith traditions to join with us to give thanks for our blessings and share a meal.” The dinner will take place on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church located at 1765 Charbonier Road in Florissant . Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for both in-house dining and take out service. Ellen Lutzow, President of the SFTD committee, shared past attendance. “A lot of the older folks who come [to the dinner] really enjoy talking to some of the younger ones. A lot of folks are lonely and don’t have any place to go or can’t afford to. We’ve fed a fair number also of families who can’t afford Thanksgiving dinner. This is a way to make sure that they get to enjoy a really nice meal. We have turkey with all the trimmings. Everyone is invited – it’s all free. We really depend on the individuals, the businesses and the community to help us.” SFTD is a 501(c)3 and Lutzow stressed that all donations go towards purchase of food for the dinner. The only exception is
any advertisement for the dinner to help them get the word out to the community. Over the years the number of people served has increased. Lutzow estimates a little over 500 people have been served yearly in the last few years, which is a combination of in-house dining and those who come for take-out dinners. Most of the carryout is done by people who come to pick up food for those who cannot get out for dinner. SFTD delivers cooked leftovers to area police who are working on the holiday. While take out is available until 2 p.m., the in-house dining stops at 1:30 p.m. to allow ample time for clean-up of the kitchen and the dining area – St. Ferdinand’s gym. There have been instances where SFTD have tried to accommodate a late comer. “One year,” Lutzow shared, “a woman came in much later. We were putting stuff away by that time. She had come on two buses to get there. I said ‘well I don’t know what’s in the kitchen but we’re going to find something for you, you’re not going home hungry. So, you sit down, and we’ll find something.’ And we did. She told me ‘the best part is that I just don’t have to eat by myself.’” These are the main items attendees can
expect to find served for dinner: turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberries, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, salad, rolls and butter. Although Helfner’s Pastries & Deli Cafe in Florissant is donating sheet cakes and individuals are donating homemade pies by way of St. Angela Merici, donated funds are used to purchase the main menu items for consistency of the menu. The 650 lbs. of turkeys have been purchased and will be delivered to Krause Katering & Kakes in Florissant, who voluntarily prepare all the turkeys. Krause will deliver them to St. Ferdinand Thanksgiving Day. The church will have volunteers in the kitchen early that morning to prepare the other food. Celia Jackson, who is a member of Halls Ferry Christian Church, one of the eight churches who contribute to the meal, has served on the SFTD committee for several years. Before the committee had the electronic online ability to recruit Thanksgiving Day volunteers, Jackson was heavily involved in the recruiting efforts. Today she facilitates the order and direction of those who have signed up to serve in various capacities at the dinner. See ‘FEAST’ page 2
Serving North & Northwest St. Louis County | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol. 96 No. 46 | 636-379-1775
Movie
Will there be justice for ‘Justice League?’ P.16
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