By Monica Pryts
SHARON — The Sharon Salvation Army hosted its 20th annual Thanksgiving feast Thursday with record numbers of meals and volunteers to serve them.
“I am always amazed. They always manage to come through,” Major Stan Senak of the Salvation Army said of the 200 or so volunteers who helped prepare and serve more than 600 meals.
Some of the traditional Thanksgiving meals were delivered to senior citizen high rises and apartment complexes, shut-ins and those without transportation, he said.
This year’s turnout was bigger than ever because of good weather, and the free meal was open to everyone, regardless of their background. People from all walks of life enjoy friends, fellowship and good food, Senak said.
Volunteers included Salvation Army board members, Miracle Valley Church, Hermitage, youth groups and 17 athletes and coaches from Sharon High School’s junior varsity and varsity basketball teams.
“It was a real enriching experience,” head coach Justin Magestro said.
The teams helped seat dinner guests and dish out the meals, simple gestures that make them more well-rounded for the “game of life,” he said.
Sharon basketball players have volunteered at the dinner in past years, so it’s become a tradition. It goes with their philosophy and motto that a “good person, good student and good athlete makes a good student athlete,” Magestro said, adding they’ll likely volunteer where needed during the Christmas season.
South Pymatuning resident Kathryn Ledney, 94, has been coming to the dinner for about 15 years. A widow, her children live out-of-town and can’t always make the trip, and she likes having somewhere to go for the holiday.
“I very seldom miss it,” she said.
Mrs. Ledney has made great friends over the years, for which she’s thankful for this Thanksgiving. She and other diners got sent home with complete second meals to eat later, which is common when there are leftovers, said Chet Cameron, Salvation Army board member.
“It’s been a pleasure. You’ve got to give back as well as receive,” Cameron said.
Marta Nagel, case worker for the Salvation Army, has been with the agency for 21 years and his seen the Thanksgiving feast get better and bigger each year. Twenty years ago, 30 people were served the meal, and delivery didn’t start until its third year.
“There are many key players,” she said.
Planning the meal started in October, and volunteers baked 66 pumpkin pies this past week. Some of the food was donated and the rest purchased, with costs rising each year, but the community is “extremely supportive,” Ms. Nagel said.
The familiar Salvation Army kettles and bell ringers are already out and doing well, and today, Black Friday, is the “big push” day for donations, she said.
