October 11 was a beautiful day for another successful Webster City Rotary Club Turkey Dinner!
Travis Lala, of our Rotary After Hours group donned the turkey costume to greet our drive-up customers.
Due to COVID restrictions, the meals were distributed as drivers arrived in two drive-up lanes.
Rotarians wait to dish up 1236 meals and transfer them out to the drive-up lanes.
The Webster City Rotary Club has held its annual Turkey Dinner for 40 years. Whether we could continue the tradition in the year of the pandemic seemed to be a big question. It is usually held at the local high school, but that facility was not available to outside groups. The new Briggs Woods Conference Center was available if we moved the event up two weeks, and director Kelly Haman was willing to work with us and Central Catering from Hawarden to make it happen.
A survey was taken of the members to determine if they were willing to proceed. After much discussion, it was determined that by following public health department guidelines, we could move forward. The committee responded quickly to adjust to a new venue, advance-only ticket sales, and drive-up only option. (In previous years, diners had the choice of dine-in. take-out, and drive-up.)
The public’s response was overwhelming. In two short hours, 1236 meals were dispensed in two quick hours. The delicious meal consisted of turkey (from 70 turkeys), dressing, and gravy supplied by Central Catering and the mashed potatoes (made from 800 lbs. of hand-peeled potatoes), green beans enhanced with bacon and almonds, and rolls, topped off with a Little Debbie Nutty Bar. As always, the leftovers were taken to Fort Dodge to Beacon of Hope, a shelter for homeless men.
With proceeds of over $10,000, the club will be able to help support several organizations. In the past, contributions have gone to Meals on Wheels, UDMO, All Cultures Equal, Youth and Family Services, D/SAOC, Backpack, Power-Up Youth, 4-H, Foundation of Hamilton County, H.E.R.O., Kids Against Hunger, Crimestoppers, local food pantries, and high school scholarships.
Forty of the Noon Club and Rotary After Hours group donned their Rotary shirts, aprons, and masks, had their temperatures taken, and went to their assigned work stations. Their overwhelming response to the event was that this may have been the best yet! So glad we did it.