Even before the doors opened, the mood was getting festive.
NORTHAMPTON -- The Thanksgiving meal at Edwards Church has become such a tradition that no one could blame them for opening the doors a few minutes early on Thursday.
The annual feast normally starts at noon, but volunteers with Manna Soup Kitchen began letting people into the dining room in the church basement at 11:45 a.m. For the score of diners waiting in the basement hallways, it was none too soon. They entered to find tables covered in white tablecloths set with seven places. On each table were lit candles, glasses of apple cider, bread baskets and seven oranges.
Robert Carroll, the secretary of Manna’s board of directors, credited the more than 80 volunteers who made the day possible, doing everything from cooking the feast to delivering 224 meals to people who could not make it to the church. Carroll expected another 250-300 to dine at the church. To accommodate them, Manna cooked up 31 turkeys, 250 pounds of potatoes and 120 pounds of butternut squash. There were many other fixings, along with an array of desserts donated by local stores and restaurants.
Manna took over the event from Bill Nagle's Honor Court five years ago.
11.28.2013 | NORTHAMPTON -- Helen Hill wears a festive hat during the Thanksgiving meal at Edwards Church.Even before the doors opened, the mood was getting festive. A man who gave his name as J.D. Edwards played his guitar in the hallway while others sang along.
Nancy Vega of Florence was among those eagerly awaiting the dinner bell.
“They do a great job,” said Vega, who was having Thanksgiving at Edwards Church for the second time. “You can’t ask for more. We’re very blessed.”
Helen Hill of Northampton brought her daughter to the feast last year. This time she was alone. Because Hill has arthritis and no transportation, her Thanksgiving had to be close to home. Fortunately, being at the feast felt a lot like being home.
“Even if people don’t know each other, they’re friendly,” she said. “If you’re feeling down and out, you should be here.”
Douglas Peavey, 65, has taken his Thanksgiving Dinner at the church for more years than he can count. Peavey said he appreciates the Christian aspect of the holiday and believes Edwards Church does it right.
“I believe we have Christian fellowship at Edwards Church,” he said. Peavey added that the food is “excellent.”