Community dinner brings together volunteers, diners

Years ago, Del and Norma Hartung started a tradition.

They began working at the Fremont Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

“When our kids were first married, we had trouble getting together on Thanksgiving Day, so we went and worked there,” the Fremont man said. “We enjoyed it so much and felt so good about it when we were done that we continued.”

The Hartungs began making deliveries. Now, they’re in charge of them. Reservations come into a call center. Hartung gets the callers’ names and arranges deliveries by location. That way, meals can be delivered promptly.

“Last year, I think we delivered 500 meals,” he said.

Again this year, Fremont area residents have the option of attending the meal or having a meal delivered.

The 25th annual dinner is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to

1:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day in the Midland Lutheran College Dining Hall. The public is invited to the free event. The menu includes the traditional dinner of turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied sweet potatoes, a vegetable, salad items and desserts.

More than 2,000 dinners were served last year, said Joann Thietje, who with her husband, Leo, has coordinated the event since 2001.

Those who are unable to come to the dinner, but who would like a meal delivered must call 753-3978 with their name, address, phone number and number of meals needed. Meal delivery may be requested until 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

People who would like transportation to and from the dinner need to call the same phone number. Transportation pickup begins at 11 a.m. Transportation is provided only in Fremont.

The dinner is open to anyone.

“This is one thing that has made the Fremont community dinner unique. It’s for everybody,” Thietje said.

About 300 volunteers assist with the event; many come year after year to help.

“Pretty much everybody who works in the kitchen has been there several years. Those (working) in the dining room, getting boxes ready, have been coming for several years,” Thietje said.

Of the volunteers, about 100 or more are drivers, who come to the event to deliver meals —

something Hartung considers remarkable.

But Hartung, like other volunteers, knows the satisfaction of helping with the event.

“You just feel good that you’ve helped somebody who can’t get down there to have a good meal and we encourage our drivers to stop and visit for a minute with them (the recipients) and give them a little holiday spirit.”

Fremonter Virginia Andersen started the citywide dinner so no one would have to be alone on Thanksgiving.

“It’s such a worthy project and so many people enjoy it,” Thietje said. “It’s fun to watch the fellowship that goes on and the interaction among different people. … It makes people happy.”

Thietje believes the dinner also shows the community’s generosity.

“We have a good number of donations, upfront, to purchase donations of food and supplies we need,” Thietje said.

What if the citywide event didn’t exist?

“There are some people who probably wouldn’t have a very nice Thanksgiving Day meal if they didn’t come to the dining room,” Thietje said. “Others could well afford to go to a restaurant and yet they all come together and I think it’s for the fellowship and the atmosphere.”