EDMONDS — Like many people in Snohomish County, Chuck Anderson rose before dawn Thursday to begin preparing Thanksgiving dinner. But the corn and mashed potatoes that the Edmonds man was cooking were not for his family.
Anderson was forgoing a family Thanksgiving dinner Thursday so he could help feed the 1,100 people who crowded the multipurpose room at Westgate Chapel in three seatings for a free traditional holiday meal.
He was one of more than 600 volunteers who put the feast together. His wife and three teenage daughters also pitched in.
Westgate’s dinner attracts people of all incomes and various backgrounds, said Janette Brooks, assistant administrator of Westgate and the wife of the Rev. Ron Brooks, who started the Thanksgiving tradition eight years ago, shortly after he became pastor of the nondenominational Edmonds church.
"Whether people are rich or poor or old or young, people want to gather together on Thanksgiving as a community and be a part of something," she said.
Some who attend the dinner are too poor to afford their own meal, and some don’t have family or friends to spend the holiday with. Others are coping with a tragedy and want to spend Thanksgiving with a large group, Janette Brooks said.
Volunteers spent Thursday preparing 74 turkeys, 616 pounds of yams, 510 pounds of stuffing and 200 large pumpkin pies — along with mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberries, salad, corn and rolls.
In addition to receiving a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, diners were treated to a show by "yo-yo man" Arne Dixon, and all children received balloons and small toys. Volunteers photographed those who wanted to later take home free framed pictures of themselves.
Anderson, 45, has volunteered for seven of the eight Thanksgiving meals.
"I don’t feel it takes away at all from my Thanksgiving," he said. "When you look at Thanksgiving from a historical perspective, it was never meant to be done alone. The first Thanksgiving was not only the pilgrims. They invited people from outside their group. That’s what Thanksgiving is about to me: reaching out to others."
Far from seeing his all-day volunteer effort as a chore, Anderson views it as a "bonus," because he gets to celebrate Thanksgiving twice. On Friday, Anderson will rise early again, this time to cook a traditional holiday meal for himself and his family.
His wife, Cindy, 42, also doesn’t see volunteering at the church each Thanksgiving to be a sacrifice.
"I enjoy serving others," she said. "Just to know that people aren’t alone on Thanksgiving, that we’ve provided a family for them — it’s indescribable."
Heather Brown’s family was also out in force Thursday. The Seattle woman, her mother, brother, sister and her sister’s two children were volunteering.
"God tells us to love one another as he loved us," Brown said as she scrambled to clear Styrofoam plates from tables. "This is a way for us to show how grateful we are for all that God has given us. I feel privileged to do this."
Anne Ferrill said it "makes my heart happy to know I am helping someone."
"I just love doing this," the Edmonds woman as she walked from table to table putting whipped cream on top of pieces of pumpkin pie.
Reporter David Olson: 425-339-3452 or dolson@heraldnet.com
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