Polson offers Grab ‘n Go Thanksgiving dinner

Organizers are gearing up to roast 50 turkeys, slice 125 loaves of bread for dressing, and peel 450 pounds of potatoes for next week’s grab-and-go community dinner served out of the Elks Club on Main Street in Polson.

According to Tracy Plaiss, last year’s event served 1,396 meals, which can be either picked up or delivered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

The Polson Community Dinner was launched about 24 years ago when the Polson Senior Center made dinner for about eight folks who had nowhere else to go. By 2019, the annual feed was serving around 500 dinners from the senior center.

When COVID struck, the senior center understandably backed out. “We thought the first year of COVID was not the time to cancel a free community dinner,” recalls Plaiss. So they asked the Elks for permission to use that facility and served 1,100 meals during the first take-out turkey dinner in 2020.

According to Plaiss, turkeys are roasted, and potatoes and dressing are prepared at commercial kitchens all over town. The meal also includes sides, desserts, rolls and cranberry sauce.

More than a hundred volunteers help with every phase, while an army of drivers disperses meals to those who request home delivery..

They receive orders via a special hotline from as far afield as Charlo and Ravalli. “We can’t deliver that far but if they’re willing to pick up we’re willing to feed ‘em,” says Plaiss.

She advises those who are picking up meals to approach from Hwy. 93 and just join the line-up of vehicles on Main St.

Why continue this vast undertaking? “Thanksgiving is the only holiday we have left in this country that’s only about giving thanks for the things you have – it’s the only one that hasn’t gotten run over and forgotten,” says Plaiss. “And every year we hear stories about people who would not have eaten without this meal being prepared.”

To reserve a dinner, or donate time, money or labor, call the hotline at 406-499-9529.

Ronan gears up for free annual feast

Volunteers are busy this week gathering ingredients for the free Thanksgiving dinner, served from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Ronan Community Center.

According to organizer Rita Ulutoa, the event is nearly two decades old, and typically serves around 250 people. It’s sponsored by the Ronan Chamber and Tribal Waves, a nonprofit ministry located in Pablo.

Volunteers roast up to 25 turkeys and prepare mashed potatoes, dressing and sides. The crew begins food prep on Wednesday. “We make everything from scratch in the kitchen,” says Ulutoa.

Community members donate pies and dinner rolls, and Ulutoa says organizers welcome donations for this year’s event.

“I’m anticipating lots of people with the way the economy is,” she added. “It’s always a lot of fun, food and fellowship.”

To donate or for more information, call 406-871-1648.