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INDEED FULFILLING
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COMMUNITY dinner: Carl Gossett, his daughter, Jessica, 1, and wife, Jody, all of Canfield, enjoy dinner during the Salem Thanksgiving Community Meal at the Memorial Building on Thursday afternoon. The event is in its 17th year.
Salem Thanksgiving meal serves up fellowship
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SALEM — It is possible to suffer perhaps the worst loss, yet find the strength to not only endure but to use the pain as a vehicle to give to others.
Just ask George Sr. and Betty Welker of Columbiana.
“Our son got us involved,” Betty Welker said, referring to her volunteer efforts during Thursday’s 17th annual Salem Thanksgiving Community Meal.
The free three-hour event at the Memorial Building, 785 E. State St., provided fellowship and holiday meals to the community. Also available were takeout dinners and delivery to homes in Salem and surrounding areas.
The Welkers’ son, George, who had been a sports and business reporter for The Vindicator, died June 28, 2001, at age 32 from cystic fibrosis. The couple also lost their daughter, Sherry, in May 1978 at age 15.
Every year since the program’s inception, the younger George loved delivering meals and praying with people, Betty Welker recalled. To honor their son and fulfill his legacy of unselfishly reaching out to others, the Welkers have taken part in the dinner every year since 2001, she said, adding that she feels the holidays should be about focusing beyond oneself.
“We need to get the focus off ourselves and on other people,” she continued. “We can reach out to people even through our hurts.”
Also thankful to be at the dinner were Brenda Blankenship and her 11-year-old daughter, Paris, a sixth-grader at St. Paul of Salem school.
Brenda Blankenship said that, in addition to the food, she appreciated being able to spend time with others in the community. Thanksgiving also is a time to remember the everyday importance of family and loved ones, added Blankenship, who’s studying to be a state-tested nurse’s aide.
“You shouldn’t take things for granted. There are some people out there who don’t even have a turkey,” Paris said, adding that she is grateful for her friends and family.
Besides the meal, fellowship and companionship were two reasons Bob Canton of Salem decided to attend.
Many people are struggling largely because of the tough economy, but there’s always something to be thankful for, explained Canton, who’s attended for three or four years.
“Things are rough now, but you should thank God for what you do have, not for what you don’t have,” he said.
The gathering featured an estimated 110 volunteers such as Mike Proctor, whose duties included serving or transporting meals, visiting with attendees and acting as greeters and ushers.
Serving is nothing new to Proctor, who works part time in a restaurant near his Nashville, Tenn., home. Spending time with family and friends, as well as wanting to be part of the dinner, were the main reasons for his visit, Proctor said.
“To me, Thanksgiving is not only being thankful for what you have but giving back to people who may not be as fortunate,” he added.
It’s important for those who are hurting to understand that no matter how dire their circumstances, other people and churches are among the resources willing to assist; they just need to be open to others offering help, Proctor noted.
The yearly dinner is like a large extended family to those who are lonely and experiencing difficulties, noted Nancy Miller, the event’s co-chairwoman. To reinforce a welcoming atmosphere, it was run much like a restaurant, she explained, adding that more than 400 meals had been preordered.
A record 481 meals were served last year, noted Jeff Schoch, pastor of Abundant Life Fellowship church in New Waterford and the event‘s coordinator.
Monetary donors included Salem Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88 and Salem Self Pro Martial Arts.
Providing entertainment were Proctor, Katie Miller of Salem and Kelli Williams of Mineral Ridge.