If one were keeping count, it would be possible to attend, not one, but five community Thanksgivings dinners this year.
A large number of community and church organizations have stepped forward this year to provide meals with turkey and all the fixings.
The first Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. at the Victory World Outreach Church, 11088 U.S. 491.
Pastor Jonathan Bland said the church has put on dinners before, but this is the first time it has been on a Saturday and the first time they have had a big push to get the community to attend. They handed out 3,000 fliers for the dinner.
“We are going to try to make it an annual event,” Bland said.
Ten turkeys and hams will be prepared, along with the fixings and desserts.
“The holidays can be a lonely time for a lot of people, so we just want to reach out and bring people together,” Bland said. “It’s open to anybody and everybody.”
Bland said the church members are excited and plan on sharing stories.
“I think people will feel better when they leave,” Bland said.
Information: 759-5519
On Sunday, head up to Rico for a community Thanksgiving dinner in Rico Town Hall. Rico Community Church is providing meat, stuffing, gravy, rolls and potatoes and drinks and it starts at 12:30.
Also on Sunday, the Summit Lake dinner will be at the Summit Lake Community Church at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23. Turkey and trimmings will be provided, bring a side dish or dessert to share at 36501 Colorado 184 across from Summit Lake.
Scott Christensen, pastor at Summit Lake Community Church, said the church has been putting on the dinner for 7 or 8 years.
“It’s a way for us to reach out to community,” Christensen said. “It’s a lot of fun to get to know people in the community.”
Information: 882-4144.
On Thanksgiving Day in Cortez, don’t miss the dinner at 110 W. North St. at the Episcopal Church at 11:30 and noon.
The church will offer two seatings for the meal and usually serves about 100 people and has been doing so for nearly 20 years.
Volunteers come from all over to help.
Information: 565-7865.
Also on Thanksgiving Day, don’t miss the dinner at the P&D Grocery. For about a dozen years, Pete Loyd and Rob Kirks, owners of P&D Grocery Store in Mancos, have hosted one big feast.
This year, the dinner will be offered at the P&D from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
“Everyone is welcome,” Loyd said.
To prepare for the event, Loyd plans to cook 16 25-pound turkeys. He’ll also prepare ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casseroles and pies – most likely pumpkin and pecan.
Loyd said they typically serve about 300 people each year.
“Mostly community members stop in. But we get people sometimes off of the street just passing through,” he said.
People from Cortez and Durango even head up for the free meal.
“We get everybody,” he said. “We started just because so many people didn’t have a place to go, so we thought we would do it as a Thanksgiving for our customers.”
The only requirement is they have to sign a guest book, Loyd said.
P&D Grocery has been open for 39 years, but Loyd can’t say for sure how many years he’s served the dinner. “I think 12, maybe 13 years. I’m not sure.”
The store is at 280 U.S. 160 West Frontage Road, Mancos.
Information: 533-7932.