Medford parish hosts first community dinner on Thanksgiving Day
November 29, 2024 at 8:55 p.m.
A festive meal and the company of people who care… that was essentially what St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, offered attendees of the parish’s first Community Thanksgiving Dinner Nov. 28.
“We were happy to help,” Father Daniel Swift, pastor, said. The experience also served as a learning experience for parish children as they encountered people who do not have a family with whom to spend Thanksgiving.
Held in the parish school auditorium, the inaugural dinner drew 12 guests, Father Swift said, and their reasons for being there varied. One guest had just downsized into an apartment and the parish dinner made it possible for him to have Thanksgiving; another guest does not have family that lives nearby. A third attendee resides in area senior housing, while two others came from Hamilton. Half of one family attended because other members were dealing with illness at home.
In addition to the guests at the dinner, arrangements were made to deliver about 40 meals to homes, Father Swift said. He added that a total of 130 volunteers were involved with preparations on Wednesday and serving meals and making home deliveries on Thursday. There were many more volunteers who were ready to assist if needed.
“Everyone was very grateful,” Father Swift said, noting that some receiving meals at home said that if the parish hadn’t delivered meals, they would have just had their regular dinner on Thanksgiving.
Father Swift said that the idea of a parish-hosted Thanksgiving dinner was inspired by a similar event in St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton. He noted that Msgr. Richard LaVerghetta, St. Joan pastor, had initiated the idea after serving as a parochial vicar in Epiphany Parish, Brick, which had hosted Thanksgiving dinner for many years.
Father Swift shared that the parish was pleased with the first time effort and will soon begin planning for the Thanksgiving 2025 dinner, with an eye toward reaching more people.
Volunteers prepare Thanksgiving meals to be delivered to homes. Courtesy photo
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A festive meal and the company of people who care… that was essentially what St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, offered attendees of the parish’s first Community Thanksgiving Dinner Nov. 28.
“We were happy to help,” Father Daniel Swift, pastor, said. The experience also served as a learning experience for parish children as they encountered people who do not have a family with whom to spend Thanksgiving.
Held in the parish school auditorium, the inaugural dinner drew 12 guests, Father Swift said, and their reasons for being there varied. One guest had just downsized into an apartment and the parish dinner made it possible for him to have Thanksgiving; another guest does not have family that lives nearby. A third attendee resides in area senior housing, while two others came from Hamilton. Half of one family attended because other members were dealing with illness at home.
In addition to the guests at the dinner, arrangements were made to deliver about 40 meals to homes, Father Swift said. He added that a total of 130 volunteers were involved with preparations on Wednesday and serving meals and making home deliveries on Thursday. There were many more volunteers who were ready to assist if needed.
“Everyone was very grateful,” Father Swift said, noting that some receiving meals at home said that if the parish hadn’t delivered meals, they would have just had their regular dinner on Thanksgiving.
Father Swift said that the idea of a parish-hosted Thanksgiving dinner was inspired by a similar event in St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton. He noted that Msgr. Richard LaVerghetta, St. Joan pastor, had initiated the idea after serving as a parochial vicar in Epiphany Parish, Brick, which had hosted Thanksgiving dinner for many years.
Father Swift shared that the parish was pleased with the first time effort and will soon begin planning for the Thanksgiving 2025 dinner, with an eye toward reaching more people.
Volunteers prepare Thanksgiving meals to be delivered to homes. Courtesy photo