By William Smith
Frank Hawkins’ eyes filled with dog-eared memories, his recollections of the first Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner ripened by the past quarter-century.
Hundreds of volunteers swarmed the Burlington High School cafeteria Thursday, preparing a Thanksgiving meal that would feed nearly 2,000 people.
Hawkins was nearly at a loss for words as he looked on, his heart swelling with what he called the eternal Thanksgiving paradox. Every act of giving is automatically packaged with the personal satisfaction of having given — no refunds accepted.
“I am an instrument of giving thanks, yet I am thankful,” he said.
Hawkins was one of the founders of the dinner 25 years ago, and still makes the trip from his home in Overland Park, Kan., every five years to offer words of encouragement to the volunteers. Following the opening prayer Thursday, Hawkins watched the controlled cafeteria chaos unfold around, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.
“It is ... ” he said, pausing as he searched for the appropriate superlative, “Wonderful.”
Not all the founders were able to see the 25th anniversary of the dinner. Sharon Ford, the late director of Community Action of Southeast Iowa, died a few years ago. Her adopted children showed in her stead, sharing memories of their late mother.
Lois Blythe, another Thanksgiving dinner founder, still works the event every year, rounding up volunteers months ahead of time. Her entire family works at the event.
“It’s just what we do,” she said.
The Genesis of a Thanksgiving Tradition
Hawkins came up with the idea of a free Thanksgiving dinner after attending a similar free feast in Illinois. As the manager of JC Penney at the time, he wanted a way to enjoy Thanksgiving while still being nearby to get the store ready for Black Friday.
But the convenience soon becomes a secondary motive, irrelevant compared to the joy of feeding the community. The dinner was and still is for everyone. Those who couldn’t afford a Thanksgiving meal. Those stuck at home while the family is elsewhere. Families that don’t have the time to cook. Passerbys who hear about free turkey.
There was no specific “type” at Thursday’s dinner. Just people who wanted to share an experience that is often taken for granted every other day of the year.
“We’re receiving as we’re giving,” Hawkins said.
Photos by William Smith
Two founders of the Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Lois Blythe (in photo 1 shown working at the volunteer stand) and Frank Hawkins (in photo 2 shown taking a moment to pray), attended the event on Thursday at the Burlington High School cafeteria.