Thanksgiving dinner downtown Youngstown unites community members

November 22, 2013 at 12:04a.m.

youngstown

A bustling line of people from all walks of life weaved through the social hall at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Youngstown.

The aroma of Thanksgiving dinner filled the air as each person received a plate of hot turkey, stuffing and the works.

It was the 33rd annual Deacons’ Thanksgiving Dinner for the community at First Presbyterian Church on Thursday evening.

“It is a community dinner that serves the physical needs and the spiritual needs,” said Julius Balogh, moderator of the deacons.

Countless hours of work and pounds of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce went into making sure all of the 600 people who typically attend the dinner are fed for free. Friends and members of the church make certain everyone who needs a Thanksgiving meal gets one with the donations they give and time they spend preparing the meals and serving the people.

“A lot of people do not realize how much work goes into this,” said Judy Elliot, member of the church.

Elliot has been involved in the making the meals for more than 20 years.

“I really enjoy it,” she said. “When you look at some of the people that come in here, you know that this is the only Thanksgiving meal they may get.”

There are at least 75 people to help put everything together, including 18 pans of stuffing. Guests gathered in the sanctuary of the church and listened to live entertainment as they waited for their numbers to be called for dinner in the social hall.

“I think it brings our church and our members spiritually together, and it gives them a good feeling,” Elliot said.

Sharon Coleman of Youngstown was one of the guests enjoying her meal at the church just as she has for more than a decade.

“[I come] because I like to see people,” Coleman said. “And I wish them a joyful Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

Coleman said the dinner is “always excellent and the people always nice,” especially the Boy Scouts who help serve.

Rachel Watts and her 3-year-old daughter, Brynn Luce, of Youngstown also thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the company at the church. Brynn nibbled away at her dinner roll as she said “mmm ... nummy,” and her mother giggled at her.

“It’s nice to see a lot of people being helped,” Watts said.