The dinner will take place at the Allegheny Valley Veterans Center in Clarendon on Thursday, Nov. 27. Approximately 300 people are served each year. Even during the pandemic this dinner was still available for take-outs and delivery. Those options are still available this year, from 10 am until 12 pm as well as meals for dining in will be served from 1 to 3 p.m. Volunteers agree that doing community life together is what this really is all about. This is a free dinner and any donated proceeds go toward Christmas food baskets for those in need.

“We look for people in need, standing on their own two feet, yet still struggling,” said Sandra Blum, lead coordinator for both programs.

Word of mouth is how these programs are typically made known. The programs start with no money and end with no money. There is always a high need for volunteers and they all have reported on what a good time they’ve had over the years.

Someone painted a beautiful picture as a way of saying thanks for delivering a meal to their door. This demonstrates the mentality of the verse from the Bible in Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

On the left are Julianna and Ethan Maze, Nate and Aaron Burdick. Pictured at right are Kira, Chloe and Scarlett Spencer.

Reservations and volunteer opportunities for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner are available by contacting Sandra Howard Blum at 814-319-1668. All are welcome, including those traveling, hunting, or alone for the holiday.

At left are Dr. Rich Van Houten, Dorothy Geer. At right are Joy and Olivia Emer.