The kitchen was a beehive of activity as volunteers prepared meals for the Thanksgiving Community Feast, organized for hundreds of holiday diners Thursday by Saugatuck Congregational Church in the hall of Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
lessThe kitchen was a beehive of activity as volunteers prepared meals for the Thanksgiving Community Feast, organized for hundreds of holiday diners Thursday by Saugatuck Congregational Church in the hall of
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Rev. Alison Patton of Saugatuck Congregational Church, right, and Rev. Debra Haffer of the Unitarian Church wait for replies to the call of "Happy Thanksgiving" at the start of Thursday's Thanksgiving Community Feast.
lessRev. Alison Patton of Saugatuck Congregational Church, right, and Rev. Debra Haffer of the Unitarian Church wait for replies to the call of "Happy Thanksgiving" at the start of Thursday's Thanksgiving Community
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The "bird of honor" awaits ceremonial carving at the start of Thursday's Thanksgiving Community Feast for hundreds in the hall of Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
The "bird of honor" awaits ceremonial carving at the start of Thursday's Thanksgiving Community Feast for hundreds in the hall of Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
Joy Davidson of Darien, formerly of Westport, has volunteered at Saugatuck Congregational Church's Thanksgiving feast for the community for 35 years.
Joy Davidson of Darien, formerly of Westport, has volunteered at Saugatuck Congregational Church's Thanksgiving feast for the community for 35 years.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
The Levy family, from left, Peter, Melissa and Brayden, celebrate their recent move to Westport and Brayden's first Thanksgiving at the annual Thanksgiving Community Feast.
The Levy family, from left, Peter, Melissa and Brayden, celebrate their recent move to Westport and Brayden's first Thanksgiving at the annual Thanksgiving Community Feast.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
The annual Thanksgiving Community Feast, organized by Saugatuck Congregational Church and hosted by Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, attracted a crowd of hundreds for the Thursday holiday.
The annual Thanksgiving Community Feast, organized by Saugatuck Congregational Church and hosted by Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, attracted a crowd of hundreds for the Thursday holiday.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
Volunteers cooked the turkeys for the Thanksgiving Community Feast at their houses and brought the birds to the Thursday dinner at Christ & Holdy Trinity Episcopal Chruch received by, from left, Bob Mitchell, turkey coordinator; Rob Flug, carrying a bird, and Caroline Lagerloef.
lessVolunteers cooked the turkeys for the Thanksgiving Community Feast at their houses and brought the birds to the Thursday dinner at Christ & Holdy Trinity Episcopal Chruch received by, from left, Bob Mitchell,
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The Stephan family, from left, Kate, Michael, C.J. and Ben, all volunteered Thursday at the 43rd annual Thanksgiving Community Feast.
The Stephan family, from left, Kate, Michael, C.J. and Ben, all volunteered Thursday at the 43rd annual Thanksgiving Community Feast.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
Lucia Wiggers of Westport handled potato masing for hundreds of dinners Thursday at Thanksgiving Community Feast.
Lucia Wiggers of Westport handled potato masing for hundreds of dinners Thursday at Thanksgiving Community Feast.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
Frank Basler, left, coordinator of Thursday's Thanksgiving Community Feast, and Bill Meyer, volunteer mainstay.
Frank Basler, left, coordinator of Thursday's Thanksgiving Community Feast, and Bill Meyer, volunteer mainstay.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
Jim Marpe, Westport's recently elected first selectman, was among nearly 200 volunteers helping to prepare and serve the annual Thanksgiving Community Feast.
Jim Marpe, Westport's recently elected first selectman, was among nearly 200 volunteers helping to prepare and serve the annual Thanksgiving Community Feast.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
Monica Garrison, one of the chefs for the Thanksgiving feast, gets string beans ready for the hundreds of diners.
Monica Garrison, one of the chefs for the Thanksgiving feast, gets string beans ready for the hundreds of diners.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
Michael Newman of Westport, a veteran volunteer for the community Thanksgiving dinner, lugs some drinks.
Michael Newman of Westport, a veteran volunteer for the community Thanksgiving dinner, lugs some drinks.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
Milt Marhoffer of Westport came to enjoy the holiday company at the Thanksgiving Community Feast hosted at Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
Milt Marhoffer of Westport came to enjoy the holiday company at the Thanksgiving Community Feast hosted at Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
Jonathan Wiegand's family was out of town Thursday so he was among the hundreds who came to the annual Thanksgiving Community Feast to share the holiday spirit.
Jonathan Wiegand's family was out of town Thursday so he was among the hundreds who came to the annual Thanksgiving Community Feast to share the holiday spirit.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
Rows of bountiful serving trays hold food donated to feed hundreds at Thursday's annual Thanksgiving community dinner.
Rows of bountiful serving trays hold food donated to feed hundreds at Thursday's annual Thanksgiving community dinner.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
One of the table settings at dozens of tables Thursday at Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church to welcome crowds at the annual Thanksgiving Community Feast.
One of the table settings at dozens of tables Thursday at Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church to welcome crowds at the annual Thanksgiving Community Feast.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
Blessed & Bountiful: Westport's annual feast shares Thanksgiving spirit
Blessings and bounty abounded Thursday as the 43rd annual Thanksgiving Community Feast, organized by Saugatuck Congregational Church, welcomed hundreds to share a banquet -- and the holiday's true spirit.
In addition to Saugatuck Congregational Church -- still displaced from its fire-damaged home -- the feast this year was co-sponsored by Temple Israel and the Unitarian Church, and hosted once again by Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
"More than ever, this is a community feast," said the Rev. Alison Patton of Saugatuck Congregational, noting that not only did several religious congregations facilitate the event, but approximately 170 volunteers pitched in to prepare and serve the dinner.
"It's the first year I've done it," said volunteer Birdie Dandrea of Fairfield. "I think those of us who are blessed have to remember those who may not be."
Joy Davidson, who has moved from Westport to Darien, volunteered again Thursday as she had for 35 years. "It just feels so good," she said. "We don't have anything like it in Darien."
Along with hundreds of pounds of produce, 42 turkeys were cooked at the homes of volunteers, who brought them to Christ & Holy Trinity hall Thursday morning in time for the dinner's 11 a.m. start.
"It's amazing," said attendee Jonathan Wiegand of Westport, whose family was away for the holiday. "It's better than my grandmother's."
"It's better than staying home and watching the walls melt," said diner Milt Marhoffer of Westport, who came to the feast because he felt like being around people.
"Everyone in Westport has been so generous and welcoming and friendly," said Peter Levy, whose family recently moved to Westport.
"We just wanted to do something in the community and wanted to give back," added Levy's wife, Melissa.
"A common theme is joy," said Frank Basler, coordinator of the event.
Despite the massive undertaking, he said there isn't much he needs to do in his role. "This is a wonderful example of a self-organizing system," he said, as all the past area leaders step up and make it happen. "They bring passion and confidence," he said. "It happens without a lot of guidance.
Matt Dembski of Westport showed up in the morning with several turkeys his family had prepared.
"We do it for the church every year," he said. "It's nice to help out."
"It's our first year," said volunteer Jennifer Derrickson of Newtown. "It's wonderful. We're very happy to be here."
"It feels good and it's just nice to give to people," said C.J. Stephan, the oldest of three siblings helping at the event.
"And just because people can't afford to have Thanksgiving, doesn't mean they shouldn't have Thanksgiving," said his younger brother Ben.
"Plus it's good to help out the community," said youngest sister Kate.
https://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Blessed-Bountiful-Westport-s-annual-feast-5019565.php
