Ways to volunteer for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner

To the Editor,

   Hello friends and neighbors.

   Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, and we would like for you to start thinking about how you can be involved in this year's Monticello Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The same leadership team (Bruce and Terry Feuling and Dennis and Jeanie McCall) have once again agreed to coordinate this year's event.

   As we have done in the past four years, all meals will either be delivered (within Monticello) or can be picked up at the Bernes Center on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28).

   We cannot do this on our own and will be looking for volunteers to help us make this event a success. Here is a list of volunteer positions, duties, and time commitment expectations:

   • Delivery driver (at least two people per route, families encouraged). We normally have 10 delivery routes. Arrive at 10:30 a.m. Become familiar with your route and deliveries. Put together meal packages for each delivery. Become part of the process to fill the hot "to go" containers. Plan to start making your deliveries at 11:30 a.m. Deliver meals and bring back any money collected.

   • Dishwashers (two to three people). Arrive at 9:30 a.m. and wash anything that needs to be washed. Done when all washing has been done (expected to be done by 1 p.m.).

   • Kitchen staff (two to three people). Arrive at 10 a.m. Help with kitchen duties (make gravy, mashed potatoes, etc.). Be a part of the process to fill hot "to go" containers. OK to leave after all the delivery drivers have left and all pick-up orders have been picked up.

   • Pie cutters (one to two people). Arrive at 10 a.m. Cut pies and put into "to go" containers. OK to leave after all the delivery drivers have left and all pick-up orders have been picked up.

   • Food prep (three to five people). Arrive at 9:30 a.m. Put rolls in bags, make cranberry cups. Help set up food for delivery routes. Be a part of the process to fill the hot "to go" containers.

   • Food servers (four to five people). Arrive at 10 a.m. Help stir/temp hot food in roasters. Be a part of the process to fill the hot "to go" containers.

   • Pick-up coordinator (one to two people). Arrive at 10 a.m. Coordinate all pick-up orders to allow for a smooth process. Be a part of the process to fill the hot "to go" containers.

   Once all the delivery drivers have left and all the carry-outs have been picked up, we would like everyone to help wash the tables and help put them away.

   We will also need boxes for the deliveries. Apple box size works well. Bring them with you when you come to volunteer or drop them off at the Berndes Center on Thanksgiving morning.

   If you would like to volunteer…OR…if you would like to order a meal to be picked up, please call 319-465-3219 and leave a message (with your phone number) and we will call you back. Monetary donations can be made at Citizens State Bank in Monticello, given to your delivery driver, or mailed to Terry Feuling, 15736 120^th Ave., Scotch Grove, IA 52310. Checks should be made out to "Terry Feuling c/o Monticello Community Thanksgiving Dinner." Any donated money left over, after all expenses have been paid, will be donated to the Monticello Food Pantry.

   Please call 319-465-3219 if you have any questions.

   We would like to thank you all in advance, as we look forward to working with all of you again this year.

Bruce Feuling

Scotch Grove, Iowa