Faribault Community Thanksgiving Dinner Details on AM Minnesota 11-19-2015

Faribault Community Thanksgiving Dinner co-chairwoman Julie Fox and longtime volunteer for the event Jim Pagel will give us details about the event on AM Minnesota today.

The program begins at 9:30AM.

The special event grew out of a desire by former Faribault residents Mel and Jerry Hlady to not spend the holidays alone after the passing of their fathers within just a few weeks of Thanksgiving.

That was in 1986 and it's been held every year since.

The first year there were just a few hundred people served, and now more than 1,000 enjoy a delicious free meal at the Faribault American Legion Post #43.

There is no formal sign-up. People just show up to volunteer.

I have been peeling potatoes every Wednesday before Thanksgiving for about as long as I can remember.

Preparations and serving first began at the Hlady's restaurant at the time, McNamara's, and moved to the Faribault Middle School and High School and have been at the Legion for a number of years.

We will go over the preparation schedule including the peeling of potatoes, carving of turkeys and table setting.

Since both my parents have been gone I've also been delivering meals on Thanksgiving Day and it is really awesome to visit with people who may be in the same situation I'm in with no family to help enjoy the day.

Remember the show will also be on our YouTube channel.