All efforts combined with prayer come together to make a memorable event
by Carolyn Y. Rickman
Evelyn Seeger and Patti Sullivan deliver cooked turkeys for the annual dinner.As far back as Margaret Freeman can recall, there has always been a fall dinner at Hilton United Methodist Church (HUMC). Soon-to-be 90 years old, Margaret is the oldest life-long member of the church family; her memory is obviously extensive. In Margaret’s youth it was called the Harvest Dinner and served buffet style. Community citizens purchased tickets and enjoyed the meal as well as the fellowship.
Some of the kitchen crew checks the stuffing.Records telling the exact year the Turkey Dinner replaced the Harvest Dinner may have been lost in the church fire of 1981. But existing records confirm that in the early 1960s the Turkey Dinner was a reality and Hilton community residents came to enjoy the “best deal in town.” For at least 50 years an all-you-can eat traditional turkey dinner has been offered at HUMC. It is currently served family-style in three settings to 432 people. In addition, take-out orders are filled, meals are delivered to church family shut-ins and approximately 100 workers are fed, totaling over 600 meals prepared on that memorable night in November.
Margaret Freeman enjoyed the dinner of November 3 and has memories of many previous dinners at Hilton United Methodist Church. In the early years there was always concern that the food would be enough. Somehow it always was, though occasionally the workers had limited portions after all other meals were served. Through the years a notebook has been compiled with detailed instructions for each committee chairperson, taking away the guess work.
Janeen Gary and daughter, Bethany, cut pies to serve.All generations of the church family and friends come together to prepare for the dinner. Volunteer committee chairpersons begin plans months before the event. Willing contributions of supplies such as coffee, potatoes, pies, and other essentials are noted on sign-up sheets during the weeks prior to the dinner. Every detail from coffee servers to clean up is planned in advance.
An all-day Fall Bazaar and Craft Sale is now offered as well. Craft Circle members and other church people work diligently through the year to provide homemade crafts and gather miscellaneous items for sale. The Bazaar is held in the multi-purpose room adjoining the sanctuary, making a pleasant diversion and early Christmas shopping opportunity for those waiting to be seated in the dining room.
Although the Turkey Dinner raises money for special projects for the Church, it offers a unique opportunity for church members and friends to unite in this industrious project. And it has become a community service outreach as well. The traditional date is the first Saturday in November and people begin calling the church weeks before for adult, senior or youth reservations. Many years all tickets for the three servings and take-outs are sold before the day actually arrives.
The Turkey Dinner is a huge undertaking with all efforts combining with prayer to make it a memorable event. There is a huge collective sigh of relief when everything is accomplished. But there is also an immense sense of pride and gratitude that once again so many have been served and their appetites satisfied – until that special evening in November comes again next year.
