According to Yost, the success of the event was not so much in the number of meals that were served or delivered, but in the number of volunteers that expanded and in the donations made by residents.

“On Thanksgiving Day, 350 meals were served, including 91 meals which were delivered to Meals on Wheels recipients and shut-ins,” Yost said. “This year the Knights of Columbus joined with others in the delivery of the meals.”

Once again Peschell’s Pastry Shop owner Harry Peschell and his staff were in integral part of the effort the dinners were cooked at his Campbell Avenue sop and brought to the church hall for serving or packaging

The city’s trolley was utilized to help senior citizens, who might otherwise be left alone on the holiday. Stops were made at all four senior housing locations (Prete, Union School, Surfside and Morrissey Manor) as well as the Veterans Administration Medical Center. In total 25 residents were brought to and from the dinner.

During the dinner, the founder of the dinner was honored for his effort. George Manwaring, who once chaired the Christ Church Ecumenical Outreach Committee, was cited for his efforts. Now living in the Masonic Home in Wallingford, Manwaring was given a special citation by Mayor John Picard, and met with old friends who are still working on the dinner.

Three weeks prior to Thanksgiving, it looked as if ACTION (Area Congregations Together in Outreach Networking) would be short some $2,000 in fund-raising efforts. The dinner was secure, but the extra money was used for seed funds for next year and to help WHEAT and Project HOPE as well as Alex’s Soup Kitchen.

“Bayer came through with a generous contribution, which put us over the top in covering our costs for this year’s dinner,” Yost said. “There will be funds available to ACTION to make additional contributions to WHEAT, Project HOPE and Alex’s Soup Kitchen.”

The final tallies and details will not be known until the committee meets in January. Yost, however, wanted to express his gratitude.

“The list of people who helped is long,” he said. “Of special note is the Notre Dame High School football team that gave its time setting up the day before the dinner,” he said.

He noted also Marathon Nursing Home (formerly Bentley Gardens) helped by giving 12 pies for the dessert.