Volunteers Thankful for Opportunity to Give

Duane and Leslie Youngsteadt

Some see Thanksgiving as an opportunity to celebrate family and food, others as a day for football and turkey legs, others as the first day of the Christmas shopping season.

For Duane and Leslie Youngsteadt and 90 volunteers, celebrating the holiday means giving thanks by helping others. The couple organizes the free community Thanksgiving dinner at United Methodist Church in Sturgeon Bay, an event that fed almost 300 people last year.

“You see the smiles on everyone’s faces,” Leslie said. “I think it means fellowship, it means having a family to spend that holiday with.”

This Thanksgiving will mark the 33rd community dinner at the church, which started as an event for church members who were going to spend the holiday alone and has since expanded to a community-wide event. The Youngsteadts have volunteered at the dinner since 2007, the first year their extended family didn’t gather in their home for the holiday.

“For many years we had wanted to volunteer but we always had a houseful of our own,” Leslie said.

“Which is what most people have,” Duane added. “This whole thing is specifically aimed at the people who don’t have that big houseful coming.”

In 2009, the Youngsteadts began taking on more responsibility for organizing the dinner, when longtime volunteer June Peterson was ready to step back from her 26 years spearheading the event.

“She didn’t just pass the baton,” Leslie said. “She wrote so many wonderful notes for us. She had the shopping list, the dates for doing things, what to prep on which day of Thanksgiving week. Everything was in great detail.”

Preparation for the dinner takes days. On Monday volunteers kick off the work by making cranberry relish. On Tuesday they cook approximately 10 25-pound turkeys. On Wednesday they peel and cook 100 pounds of potatoes and set up the dining room, then on Thanksgiving they slice breads and pies, pack meals to be delivered or picked up, and get ready for the diners. Volunteers deliver meals to those who request them on Thursday, as well.

Those who’d like to attend the Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church’s dinner or request a to-go or delivery meal should call the church at 920.743.3241. Those who would like to volunteer should contact the Youngsteadts at 920.746.8643.

Community/Complimentary Thanksgiving Dinners

Baileys Harbor Cornerstone Pub

8123 Highway 57, Baileys Harbor

Complimentary Thanksgiving Dinner, 2 – 6 pm.

The Baileys Harbor Community Association puts on the meal for free; there will also be a cash bar. To attend, volunteer or donate, call Brynn at 920.839.2366.

Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church

11836 Highway 42, Ellison Bay

Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, 12 pm. Dinner follows Thanksgiving service at 11:15 am in the sanctuary.

Reservations required by Friday, Nov. 22. Call Jill Lhost at 854.5050. No carryouts. Free, but donations will support Door CANcer.

United Methodist Church

836 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay

Free Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner, 4:30 pm.

Reservations need to be in by Monday, Nov. 25, 2013. Call 743.3241.