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Community Invited To Share Holiday
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Wanted: Experienced turkey carvers. Please bring your own knife.

Escalon Community Thanksgiving Dinner meal coordinator Bev Arnold is looking for a few good turkey carvers to join her at the Escalon Community Center on Wednesday afternoon. That's when the 22 turkeys that will help make up the community Thanksgiving meal on Thursday will go 'under the knife.' Carvers who would like to help can bring their own knife, electric or traditional, and help with the carving.

"It's coming together," Arnold said Tuesday morning, at the Community Center overseeing early preparations for the annual dinner. "I've got a lot of help."

Most of the dinner is under control, she said, but she does need the experienced carvers. Anyone wanting to help with that is asked to turn out at the community center about 3 p.m. today, Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Arnold said she is looking for another good turnout for the meal this year, inviting Escalon area residents to join together to share Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.

"Last year we served 378 meals," she said.

That included those that went to the Community Center to 'dine in' as well as the meals delivered to shut-ins and the elderly and the 'take out' meals that people stopped by to pick up and take home with them.

The annual Escalon Community Thanksgiving dinner is offered free, with primary financial backing provided through the Escalon Ministerial Association.

Arnold serves as primary coordinator and DeeAnna Jackson is again handling the home delivered and take-out orders.

The meal is served up, restaurant style, with orders taken and plates of piping hot food delivered to diners at their tables. From the salad course to the pumpkin pie for dessert, diners can eat their fill.

Some attendees make a donation to the Escalon Ministerial Association, though no payment is requested. Over the years, the dinner has evolved into a true community event. Not only those residents that live alone and may not have anyone to share the day with otherwise attend, but also families have made it a tradition to eat their Thanksgiving dinner with their friends and neighbors.

Serving starts about 11:30 a.m., with the center opening up about 11 a.m. for those that want to come early for a cup of coffee and to socialize. Dinner runs until about 1:30 p.m. and there are no set 'seatings' - just come when you want and enjoy the free holiday meal.