Thanksgiving community dinner needs volunteers

Preparations are continuing for the annual community Thanksgiving dinner at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds on Thursday from noon to 2 p.m.

The main course — forty 20-pound turkeys — is being provided by Cholwell, Benz and Hartwick and cooked by Ray’s and Safeway. The dressing will be prepared by members of the local Elk and Emblem clubs, as they have done for the past 20 years.

Other side dishes are needed to round out the Thanksgiving meal. Organizers are asking for donations of canned yams, green beans, olives, pickles, cubed bread stuffing and marshmallows.

Donations can be dropped off at the Del Norte Triplicate, 312 H St.; Del Norte Ambulance, 2600 Morehead Road, Fort Dick; the fairgrounds office off U.S. Highway 101; North Valley Bank, 1942 Northcrest Drive; and KCRE/KPOD studios, 1345 Northcrest Drive.

Pies and rolls can be ordered and paid for through local bakeries, where organizers will pick up the food Wednesday. Call organizer Teri Sandler at 464-5591 and let her know if you’ve ordered something.

To make a monetary donation, mail a check to P.O. Box 306, Crescent City, or bring it to any of the drop-off locations. Food and monetary donations must be made by Tuesday.

Volunteers are needed Thursday, especially for after the event to put away chairs, tables and do dishes. Those interested in volunteering should call Sandler.

Redwood Coast Transit will be providing rides for the dinner. The price is a canned food item for Rural Human Services’ food drive for the holidays. Make an appointment by calling 464-6400 by Tuesday.