31 turkeys being cooked

MOSES LAKE - Columbia Basin Job Corps is serving a free Thanksgiving dinner to the community Thursday.

The meal is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Elks Lodge, 814 N. Stratford Rd., in Moses Lake.

People for People offers rides to those who need assistance. Transportation reservations can be made by calling 509-765-9249.

First Choice Services Program director Jennifer Kilian said the event is organized by local social service agencies.

Students are cooking 31 turkeys and 200 pounds of potatoes for the feast, according to Job Corps culinary arts instructor Theresa Clement.

"We're going to have lots of good food," Clement said.

All the food is made from scratch, she said.

About 16 job corps students are helping with the event, some of whom are arriving at 3 a.m. to begin prepping food. The students are all excited about the event, Clement said.

This year, Kilian and Clement are decorating the room with scarecrows, hay and a giant pumpkin.

"We're having some fun with this one," Clement said.

Kilian said 376 people attended the event last year. This year, organizers expect to serve 400 to 500 people.

The expected increase is due to an increase in public awareness about the event, Kilian said.

Organizers decided to hold the event earlier this year. Kilian said the date was moved back because organizing the event was hard on volunteers as they also prepared for their families' dinners.

"We collectively decided that we wanted to go a week earlier," Kilian said.

For more information, call Jennifer Kilian at 509-765-7678, or Barbara Umberger at 509-764-5674.