A particularly busy Thanksgiving Day around Southbury. The first running of the Turkey Trot race, sponsored by the Southbury Women's Club, in support of the Southbury Fuel bank and Food Bank. Mass of Thanksgiving at Sacred Heart Church. Mass at River Glen Health Care Center. Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner, held this year at Sacred Heart Church. Plus, of course, all the usual hectic activities at each individual home to prepare for the holiday. Here's a quick look at some of those activities.
Let's start at the beginning. It takes a lot of turkeys to supply the Community Dinner. And these folks are up and getting the first birds into the ovens by 5:00 A.M. Now, that's what I call dedication. Their work day is done just about the time everyone else is getting started.
And just around the corner from Sacred Heart, the 1st Annual Southbury Turkey Trot was just getting started. Over 700 runner and walkers took part, doing their part in support of the Southbury Food and Fuel Banks.
And just in case one of the runners makes a wrong turn, there were plenty of volunteers around to make sure they stay on track.
One unexpected problem was the closure of many local roads for the race. Fr. Collins made it to church just in time to celebrate the 9:00 AM Mass on Thanksgiving morning.
At the end of Mass, everyone is invited to take a loaf of bread and a printed blessing to use at their own dinners at home. Any left overs are used in the Community Dinner, or sent to the shelter in Waterbury.
The invitation has been posted in the atrium of Sacred Heart for several weeks now. An invitation to come and enjoy some food and fellowship on Thanksgiving day. A delicious meal with many others from the surrounding area. This is the 19th year for the Dinner, a wonderful tradition.
Getting ready for the meal requires many volunteers to give freely of their time. Here some of those volunteers are preparing the appetizer trays for each table.
The table is all set, decorated in style, just waiting for the guests to arrive.
Just a few more minutes, and the hall will be filled with guests and volunteers, enjoying each others company, and the delicious meal prepared and served with love.
Special thanks to our friends from Southbury Baptist Church who have been doing the clean up of these dinners from the first. Without them, it just wouldn't go as smoothly as it does. And thanks to everyone who attended, your presence made our day. How can we ever offer enough thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who made this day the success it was. Months of planning, hours of intense work, and then it's over until next year.