WAPAKONETA, Ohio (WLIO) – Hundreds of people gathered Thursday afternoon for the Wapakoneta Community Thanksgiving Dinner, enjoying turkey and all the fixings at the Saint Joes Parish Life Center.
In 2024, organizers served more than 500 meals, and they expected to serve a similar number this year. The meal is made possible through donations from local families and businesses, along with the help of more than 100 volunteers who prepare and serve the food each year. The committee behind the annual dinner says they are grateful to see residents come together to share food and fellowship on Thanksgiving.
“We love hosting this meal because it is for the entire community, and it's great. You know, sometimes we get in our little silos and we only see the people we work with. We see the people we go to church with, but maybe we don't see the whole community, and this is a great opportunity for everyone. I know that I'm the greeter every year, and I see people I haven't seen since the previous Thanksgiving, so it's just a wonderful opportunity to build community,” says Rachel Barber, Wapakoneta Community Thanksgiving Dinner Committee.
In addition to serving guests at Saint Joes, volunteers also delivered meals to homebound individuals and first responders to ensure everyone could enjoy a holiday meal.
