We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Thanksgiving is a time to be with family, give thanks and enjoy a nice home cooked dinner. Often family isn’t around, however, and cooking a large meal is difficult if you live alone or it is just you and your partner.
But each Thanksgiving Day, the city of Chinook is invited to the Community Thanksgiving Dinner to enjoy a delicious meal. Every year a small committee plans and puts on the feast for anyone in town regardless of financial status, so that no one has to go without on this important holiday.
Betty and Mark Billmayer have been the chefs for the annual event the past 8 years, with help from several volunteers. The meal is traditional with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, yams, and everyone’s favorite, green bean casserole. The dinner is free but a free will offering is accepted. “The community has been very generous with their funds,” said committee member Jay Eslick. The committee also receives other donations from the community. According to community members, the dinner has been an annual event since the 80’s.
In-house dining will begin at 12:30 pm and go until 2 pm at the Blaine County Commercial Building at the fair grounds. Eslick is hoping for more people to eat in-house, as the numbers had dropped off after Covid. “We’d like to get back up to over 100 in-house.” Door prizes are offered to encourage people to eat at the commercial building.
Deliveries will begin at 11 am, and pickups can be scheduled starting at 11:30 am, by filling out forms available around town. You can pick up and return forms to Chinook Pharmacy, Finley’s Food Farm, the Senior Center, First Bank of Montana or the Town Pump. You can also call Kathy O’Brien to schedule a delivery at 357-2937.
If you would like to volunteer to help, call Betty Billmayer at 390-4935. There are opportunities on both Wednesday to help set up, and Thursday starting 7 am going throughout the day for deliveries, serving and cleanup. “No help will be turned away, so if you decide late that you want to help, stop by,” said Eslick. The committee is hoping for good weather and a large turnout.
