Students serve up a feast for Thanksgiving

by Brandon Macz
Thursday November 27, 2008
Reprinted with permission from the Lewiston Tribune

Thanksgiving came early to many area families in need Wednesday when first-year nursing students at Walla Walla Community College in Clarkston hosted a free dinner at the First Church of God.

 

Student Tania Sharp said a food drive had been discussed, but she recommended hosting a full Thanksgiving dinner. Her father, Quinten Parsons, works for the First Church of God and helped his daughter get clearance, he said.

 

"We've had two other Thanksgiving dinners here already," Parsons said. "This started out basically for Family Promise. I said, 'Well, let's open it up for other people.'"

 

Family Promise of Lewis-Clark Valley is part of a 20-year-old national interfaith hospitality network that provides food, shelter and opportunities for families in crisis.

 

"I knew about Family Promise because my dad's church was involved in it," Sharp said. "We started gathering food and it started growing and growing."

 

Two families from Family Promise comprised eight of the more than 60 people who showed up to fill their plates with holiday favorites.

 

"It's very nice of them to do this," said Shirlene Jutte, a Family Promise board member. "The people are so willing to give so much of their time, and that's what makes it work."

 

The organization graduated its first family from the program last week, and expects to take in another family next week.

 

There were five turkeys baked Wednesday, with two provided by college instructors, one from Sharp and another donated by Tri-State Memorial Hospital's Wound Care Center.

 

Side dishes, including baked beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing and green-bean casserole, steamed as students tried to keep the turkey tray full.

 

"We've got Stove Top, but we're going to add our own homemade touch," student Debbie Jackson said.

 

"We have any cardiac issues, I can do that," said student Kendra Fitzgerald, adding that she gave up a day of work to help with the dinner. "I have nothing, but these people have less than nothing."

 

The dinner began at 6 p.m., but the five turkeys had almost been devoured by 7 p.m., forcing students to run to the store and pick up seven rotisserie chickens.

 

Student Colleen Montoya said an anonymous donor contributed $100 for anything they might need.

 

With Parsons dissecting pieces of turkey to keep up with the holiday rush, students worked inside the church's kitchen to produce more stuffing and gravy.

 

"I'd rather be here doing this," Sharp said. "It just makes Thanksgiving feel a little more real."