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‘We've been blessed'
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| From left; Louise Leonhardt, Marie Greenwood, Connie Fleissner, Anita Whedon and Carol Leuenberger gather at the Salvation Army. The women are hoping more people will donate turkeys for the annual dinner. So far there has been a turkey shortage this year. Staff photo by Hillary Gavan |
By Hillary Gavan
Daily News staff writer
Group giving back during Thanksgiving
Cook Marie Greenwood and her band of volunteers - the Golden Girls - are looking for a few good turkeys and volunteers.
This year the Salvation Army is running short on both food and manpower for its Nov. 26 dinner to be held from 4-7 p.m. at 628 Broad St., Beloit.
So far Greenwood has only received two turkey donations. The Salvation Army purchased 15 turkeys, but will need at least 20 more birds before the dinner. Any extra turkeys donated will go to the neediest homes in Beloit and will be delivered by Greenwood. The Salvation Army can also use dinner rolls, cranberries, sweet potatoes and potatoes.
The Salvation Army also will need at least 50 more volunteers for the dinner. Last year 645 people attended the event and this year it will be 700 to 750 people. Volunteers can serve on the food lines, act as waiters and waitresses or work on the cleanup crew.
Greenwood started cooking for Thanksgiving about a week ago. Her oven can only cook four turkeys at a time, so she will put birds in each day. She will keep cooking, and then freezing the food until the dinner.
Greenwood already has 46 loaves of cut-up bread for stuffing in garbage bags in the freezer.
Although preparing the meal is challenging, Greenwood has received some special help this year. A group of retired friends calling themselves the Golden Girls have swept in to help with the kitchen, mobile pantry and sign-ups.
The group consists of Carol Leuenberger, Sandie Paul, Louise Leonhardt, Doris Ferger, Connie Fleissner and Anita Whedon. The group decided they wanted to help people and started volunteering at the Salvation Army together.
“It's fun meeting people. We give them a shoulder, and someone to talk to. We've been blessed so we need to pass it along to other people,” said Connie Fleissner.
Greenwood admits it was a little difficult for her to share the kitchen at first. But after she saw the women's cooking abilities she was glad for the extra help. Greenwood said the women are baking the pies for this year's Thanksgiving dinner with intricate details, such as leaf cutouts on top.
Greenwood said the women will cut 50 pounds of potatoes on a moment's notice.
“If we need anything, they are there,” Greenwood said.
April Lamm, Salvation Army volunteer coordinator, said there are more new faces at the Salvation Army due to the economy.
“Some people get laid off, some lose their jobs and some can't make enough money. They are in a lose-lose situation,” Lamm said.
For more information on volunteering, call Lamm at 608-365-6572.
Cook Marie Greenwood and her band of volunteers - the Golden Girls - are looking for a few good turkeys and volunteers.
This year the Salvation Army is running short on both food and manpower for its Nov. 26 dinner to be held from 4-7 p.m. at 628 Broad St., Beloit.
So far Greenwood has only received two turkey donations. The Salvation Army purchased 15 turkeys, but will need at least 20 more birds before the dinner. Any extra turkeys donated will go to the neediest homes in Beloit and will be delivered by Greenwood. The Salvation Army can also use dinner rolls, cranberries, sweet potatoes and potatoes.
The Salvation Army also will need at least 50 more volunteers for the dinner. Last year 645 people attended the event and this year it will be 700 to 750 people. Volunteers can serve on the food lines, act as waiters and waitresses or work on the cleanup crew.
Greenwood started cooking for Thanksgiving about a week ago. Her oven can only cook four turkeys at a time, so she will put birds in each day. She will keep cooking, and then freezing the food until the dinner.
Greenwood already has 46 loaves of cut-up bread for stuffing in garbage bags in the freezer.
Although preparing the meal is challenging, Greenwood has received some special help this year. A group of retired friends calling themselves the Golden Girls have swept in to help with the kitchen, mobile pantry and sign-ups.
The group consists of Carol Leuenberger, Sandie Paul, Louise Leonhardt, Doris Ferger, Connie Fleissner and Anita Whedon. The group decided they wanted to help people and started volunteering at the Salvation Army together.
“It's fun meeting people. We give them a shoulder, and someone to talk to. We've been blessed so we need to pass it along to other people,” said Connie Fleissner.
Greenwood admits it was a little difficult for her to share the kitchen at first. But after she saw the women's cooking abilities she was glad for the extra help. Greenwood said the women are baking the pies for this year's Thanksgiving dinner with intricate details, such as leaf cutouts on top.
Greenwood said the women will cut 50 pounds of potatoes on a moment's notice.
“If we need anything, they are there,” Greenwood said.
April Lamm, Salvation Army volunteer coordinator, said there are more new faces at the Salvation Army due to the economy.
“Some people get laid off, some lose their jobs and some can't make enough money. They are in a lose-lose situation,” Lamm said.
For more information on volunteering, call Lamm at 608-365-6572.
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