http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/nov/26/other-area-groups-share-holiday-feast/
As families across Clark County began Thanksgiving dinner preparations, hundreds of volunteers were busy serving up free meals and delivering turkeys with all the fixin’s.
Chronis’ Restaurant opened its doors at 10 a.m. to several people waiting in the chilly weather for a hot meal.
Visitors received a steaming plate of ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green beans, cranberries and a dinner roll. For dessert they had a helping of pumpkin pie with whipped cream topping and a to-go bag of cookies.
“That was pretty darn good turkey, even though it looked like ham,” Jerry Taylor said, smiling as he finished his lunch.
Taylor lives in Vancouver and stops at the restaurant for coffee before catching the bus to Portland. When he noticed the flier advertising the free meal on a bulletin board at the senior home where he lives, he decided to spend Thanksgiving at the downtown Vancouver restaurant.
“I’ve just always taken a liking to this place,” he said.
Taylor was one of the first visitors through the door Thursday morning. As people left their tables and walked out the front door, others came into the restaurant looking for a meal. Owner Chuck Chronis said most years the morning is slow. The economy and frigid temperatures this week likely contributed to the busier-than-usual morning, he said. This year, the restaurant prepared enough food to feed 500 people.
“We prepare for an exaggerated number,” Chronis said. “That way nobody goes without a meal.”
Any leftover food and milk is taken to the women’s crisis center, he said.
Chronis and Superior Court Judge Rich Melnick started the operation 27 years ago. That first year, they served 79 meals.
“It doesn’t matter if you just serve one,” Melnick said. “That’s how we’ve always looked at it.”
This year marked Al Abilana’s second visit to the restaurant for Thanksgiving. Abilana lives near Esther Short Park and said he wouldn’t cook a whole Thanksgiving meal just for himself. Instead, he visits the nearby restaurant.
“It’s like one big happy family,” he said. “I think it brings the community closer together by having something like this.”
On the other side of the county, another group of volunteers was preparing dozens of turkeys and all the trimmings. For about 20 years, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Camas has cooked and delivered meals to residents in the Camas-Washougal area. This year, volunteers cooked and packed boxes of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, fruit salad, rolls, cranberries and pie for 250 people.
After a brief prayer, dozens of volunteers lined up in the church dining area to retrieve boxes for delivery.
The Marrinan family — Steve, Cindi, 17-year-old Chris and 13-year-old Erin — and Erin’s friend 13-year-old Maddie Miller grabbed two boxes and headed out the door. Thursday marked the 11th year the family has volunteered to deliver meals.
“This is a great way to start the Thanksgiving season,” Cindi said. “It warms the heart a bit.”
At the first home, Steve and Chris walked the warm meal to the front door. The pair greeted the man, who is also a church parishioner, and wished him a happy Thanksgiving.
At the next stop, Cindi, Erin and Maddie retrieved the box from the back of the family’s sport utility vehicle and headed for the front door.
“I think it’s pretty nice, extremely nice,” 14-year-old Allen Vandmarr said of the meal donated to his family.
The Marrinan family started volunteering to help others, give back to the community and to show their young children how fortunate they are, Steve said. Now, the kids look forward to the tradition.
“It just makes me feel happy to know I’m helping someone else,” Erin said.
Back at Chronis’, volunteers continued to welcome visitors with warm smiles and hot meals until 3 p.m.
“This is my first time here for Thanksgiving,” Taylor said. “And I’ll sure not forget it.”
Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.
