By Kristina Stucki, Journal contributor
The 25th annual SJI Community Thanksgiving Dinner, open to all islanders, will be held at Friday Harbor Suites’ Medio Cafe from noon to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers of all ages interested in cooking, baking, cleaning, decorating and serving can see what’s needed and sign up online at www.islandthanksgiving.weebly.com.
“A lot of times these kinds of dinners are only for people who can’t afford Thanksgiving,” explained Diana Porter, who runs the event with her husband, Kevin Porter. “This event isn’t only that. This is for everyone. Come volunteer or bring a pie, and then sit down to dinner with the community. It’s about gathering together as islanders.”
The event has come a long way since it initially began in 1999, with Jim and Minnie Knych at the helm. It started at the Grange with just a few families (where they’d run back and forth to the American Legion kitchen), eventually moved to the Mullis Center and now this year is making its debut at Medio Cafe in Friday Harbor Suites, located at 680 Spring Street.
Over time the dinner has grown into a large event, gathering friends new and old.
“It’s beautiful. And really that’s the main emphasis: community,” Diana continued. “It’s not about the food. They might see friends they see all the time, or maybe someone they haven’t seen since last Thanksgiving.”
“You know when you run into someone at Kings and you catch up for a minute in the aisle?” Kevin added. “It’s like that, but over a warm dinner. It’s not about the food, but the food is really good. It’s not institutional – it’s a real Thanksgiving.”
The dinner is funded by donations from attendees, community members and local businesses. Kings and Marketplace are donating 36 turkeys this year. Volunteers can sign up to prep the turkeys and hand them off to another group of volunteers who roast them in their home ovens. Another group will carve the turkeys, and another will serve.
Other volunteers will be decorating, serving or cleaning. The Porters recalled a Thanksgiving when even their 6-year-old granddaughter signed up to volunteer – and proudly placed a roll onto each diner’s plate.
“We’ve split the work into small bites, so it isn’t hard to contribute. It’s fun!” Diana laughed. “Some people have done the same job year after year and race to sign up for their favorite slot.”
With the coronavirus pandemic complicating 2020-2022’s events, and other issues leading to ultimately skipping 2023’s dinner, it’s been a tumultuous few years for the event. The Porters are thrilled to get the help of Nicole Santora this year, a newer islander who’s breathed fresh life into the planning and marketing efforts.
“Her skillset is just what we needed,” Kevin said, noting that mixing the new and old is one of the things he loves most about the community dinner. “In the 30 years we’ve been here, we went from a small local community to lots of new people who don’t even really know who the long-term islanders are. But no matter the differences or changes, we want to keep that sense of belonging and community.”
Santora agrees, excited to witness the gathering herself this year for the first time right next to islanders who have been going for 25 years. “I think there’s something magical that happens when we get together and break bread,” she said. “I’ve never been to a community dinner, but talking to Diana and seeing the spark in her eyes when she recounted how the dinners brought people together – some of whom are widowed or don’t get out often. What she described truly sounds like a family Thanksgiving dinner. You might not see them but once a year, but it still feels good to gather, you know?”
She added, “And I love that it’s free! But it’s literally for everyone whether you’re struggling with food insecurity or not. I just can’t wait.”
Other information and volunteer signups can be found at www.islandthanksgiving.weebly.com.
