ON A MISSION: Local organization preparing to serve more than 1,000 at annual Thanksgiving dinner

WASILLA — The Frontline Mission Christian charity organization is getting ready for its annual Free Thanksgiving Dinner event, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day at the Menard Center in Wasilla.

“We increase every year,” food distribution coordinator Don Houk said.

According to Houk, Frontline Mission staff and volunteers are preparing to put full course meals on more than 1,200 plates this year. That’s about how many people served last year. Houck said he expects this number to keep growing, planning for about 2,000 people next year. He said that about 250 volunteers from all walks of life helped out last year and while they have about as much this year, they are always accepting help.

“We will never turn down a volunteer,” Houk laughed.

On Nov. 16, Houk and other employees scurried around their office, kitchen and storage units to prepare for their huge event. Several volunteers invested their afternoon preparing a plethora of road signs to get the word out, across the community.

Houk noted that even though they are pretty much set on dinner items, they will also never turn down any donation, food or financial. He said that they are preparing about 500 pounds of turkey alone for this event. People interest in donating can visit their website and a $3.95 donation equates to one meal.

After six years hosting this event and three years at the Menard Center, Houk said the goal is still the same, to feed those in need. Those needs may vary by person, he explained. Houck said that many people without any family or significant others enjoy the company of others and there’s still a growing need for the homeless and less fortunate in the community, especially the youth.

One notable difference this year is the addition of live music, provided by the cast of “Newsies,” who are also performing in January at the Glenn Massay Theater. Directed by AJ Seims with Emily Bradford as the artistic director, “Newsies” performances will be January 25-27, Jan. 31, and Feb. 1-2. The musical features a gaggle of Mat-Su Valley youth dancing and singing to the Disney classic.

This dinner will feature all the classic Thanksgiving fixings including mash potatoes, gravy, green beans, rolls, and three kinds of pies with many more kinds of deserts. There will also be a raffle, with volunteers giving out prizes every 45 minutes.

“Oh, and it’s all you can eat,” Houk laughed.

Thanksgiving is not the only time of year Frontline Mission serves food to the community. Stacy Lobdell is one of the kitchen managers and lead volunteers. She started working with Frontline Mission about six years ago with the Cub Scouts. She said that she started volunteering on her own last year because she was onboard with Frontline Mission’s mission to help the surrounding community.

“It just all fits,” Lobdell said.

Longtime volunteer Dan Kirkwood was seen busily preparing for the upcoming event, stocking and sorting items. He said that this event is essentially a melting pot of community driven people from so many place under a common cause.

“It’s a menagerie of everyone on the Valley,” Kirkwood said.

Volunteers said that anyone in need of a meal can pick can stop by their kitchen off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, near Fred Meyer and Wasilla Lake, in the parking lot of their parent church, the Wasilla Lake Church of the Nazarene every Thursday and Friday from 10:30 to 1 p.m.

Melony Green, officer manager and bookkeeper, volunteered at last year’s dinner. She said that she has two favorite parts to the whole experience. First, the volunteers showing dedication, “I love seeing whole families giving up their time,” and secondly, the community who seem to be happy with the outcome, “you can tell they felt good about it.”

For more information or to donate, visit: www.frontlinemission.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com