Ed Gagnon passed away last month. He and Emma bought all the vegetables needed for our Thanksgiving Dinner for years. They gave a legacy of love to tens of thousands of Thanksgiving Dinners in Riverside and beyond.
We’ll miss Ed, just as we’ve missed Emma.
He was a long time greeter at the door and it’s hard for family and church family in these days of social distancing not to be able to love each other and lift one another up in times of loss.
Please keep them all in your prayers.
Ed was one of the good guys. He got a kick out of having the people at Smart & Final load their little SUV and then watch me struggle to unload it! Think he and Emma somehow knew to plan to come when Ken was out for a few minutes!
Our 33rd Annual Free Community Wide Thanksgiving Dinner is definitely a different event because of Covid-19 restrictions.
No group work or dinner here at Central Community.
Normally the sweet aroma of turkey would be filling the campus as Pastor Ken fired up the ovens that don’t go off for weeks on end!
This year family’s will receive all they need to prepare a Thanksgiving Dinner for everyone at home. We’ve been blessed with amazing donations.
Turkey? They’re here. Stuffing? Cases of it. Vegetables? yep. Potatoes? Close to half way there. Ken stopped and picked up one hundred 5 pound bags at WINCO for $1.78 a bag. Great Price! We could use a couple hundred more 5 pound bags of them. Pumpkin Pie – have 2 friends on it and I’ll let you know if they end up falling short. Pumpkin Pie always ends up being the last minute miracle!
We still need a few hundred 8oz cans of cranberry jelly or sauce – you spend the money – your call. We also need dinner rolls. You can buy all the bread for this years dinner.
This years dinner is going out ready to prepare to each family of 4 or more. Turkey and everything that goes with it – they just need to make it happen once it gets home.
3 people or less receive beautiful Thanksgiving meal that’s being prepared by McGrath’s Catering here in Riverside. They’ve allowed us to use their warmers over the years and when we realized the quarantine guidelines were going to keep us from cooking here at the church – the decision was an easy one of who to turn to and they’ve been incredibly gracious.
The seniors, singles and small families who depend on us are receiving a beautiful meal – with all the trimmings and dessert – delivered to their doorstep Tuesday evening or Wednesday before Thanksgiving – packed in a microwavable container for the big day.
Those coming for Turkey “baskets” will be picking them up at their appointed time on the 17th, 18th or 21st of November – giving their turkey time to thaw and the family the opportunity to see what they’ve received and plan accordingly.
A bunch of thought, planning and now the logistics have gone into this, even still, it’s so very different.
Every Thanksgiving since 1988 – the decade our children were born – we’ve spent with friends, volunteers and strangers at Central Community – one year my entire family gave up their Thanksgiving and Dad, Mom, all of us, we celebrated together here… my siblings hated it… but it’s a wonderful memory.
We’re giving singles, small families, senior citizens and large families alike the opportunity to not just sit down and eat together but to share the miracle of being remembered in a year many of us would like to forget and that’s been easy to feel left out, overlooked or like so many who’ve lost their jobs – just not have enough.
I’m so thankful for the thousands, people like Ed and Emma, who’ve made the dinner possible across the years. I’m thankful for you.
I’m also concerned about those we still might miss this year.
If you need Thanksgiving Support – call the church and reserve your help.
If you’re able to help – we need more potatoes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and maybe pie – we’ve got plenty of place to store it here at the church. Our BIG freezer’s on site and no where near full.
We’ll need volunteers to deliver dinners to singles, seniors and small families on Tuesday evening the 24th and Wednesday the 25th.
You are welcome.
And for all of you who normally share Thanksgiving with us – the hundreds we celebrate together with each year… we’ll miss being together more than I can say. Hurts my heart already.
Dinners have been canceled across Southern California – some continue. When we made our decision, you were at the front of our thinking – keeping you and your family healthy.
You deserve decades more Thanksgiving’s together – we can do something different this year. Our emotions will survive. Praying we help keep the community alive – and thankful.
You can help. If you bring something to the church, ask
“Is Pastor Eric around?” I miss seeing everyone. And if you’d like to answer phones, they’re ringing and you’re welcome.
Know that I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve in the heart of so wonderful a community with great people like you. I’m confidant we’ve made the best decision and that it’s going to bring joy to thousands.
You can help.
You’re Invited!
Don’t miss your miracle!
Come and begin or continue to live out your Thanksgiving legacy at Central Community.
