Donations coming in for Community Thanksgiving

Hotline up and running for Thanksgiving meals

Typically the week before Thanksgiving and the week of we get a lot  calls. Calls are a little low right now, but we expect things to really pick up this week and next”

Savanna Collier, Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING HOTLINE

Residents can call 319-316-8103 to order a meal for delivery or pick-up on Thanksgiving. They can also call the hotline number to volunteer to help prepare the meals and clean up.

FORT MADISON - The energy behind the annual Fort Madison annual Community Thanksgiving meal is peaking at the right time.

According to Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce Director Savanna Collier, the community hotline number is as busy as ever and orders are still being taken for dinners this year.

The number to call for delivery of the free thanksgiving dinners is 319-316-8103. Those wanting to volunteer to help put the meals together on Wednesday and Thursday can also call the number.

This year's meal includes the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, a dinner roll and a cookie for dessert.

Anyone wishing to stop by the Eagles Club in Fort Madison at 4821 Avenue O to pick up meals is also encouraged to call the hotline to let volunteers know ahead of time.

Sponsors of this year's event include Scotts Miracle-Gro. Huffman Welding and Machine, DuPont, Tri-State Rodeo, Pilot Grove Savings Bank, JJD Contracting, Dawn Hall, and Silgan Containers.

There is no charge for the meals or the delivery of the meals. The meals are delivered cold and simply need to be safely heated in an oven or microwave. After the pandemic, the committee decided to go to pick and up delivery only to prevent exposure to possible virus activity.

This year they said serving the dishes cold makes the process quicker and more efficient for volunteers and reduces workload.

Collier said volunteers will be on site until 2 p.m. putting together meals, so anyone can drop in or call to get a meal until then.

She said volunteers are still needed especially on Wednesday when a lot of the food preparation and clean up is being done. Additional drivers, set-up and clean up volunteers are needed for Thursday as well.

Collier said volunteers are expecting heavy call volumes over the next 11 days

"Typically the week before Thanksgiving and the week of we get a lot  calls. Calls are a little low right now, but we expect things to really pick up this week and next," Collier said.

The Iowa State Penitentiary continues to be a big partner of the event cooking the turkeys and the mashed potatoes this year, as they did last year.

But the prison has been involved in the community dinner for most of the years the event has been taking place.