Thanksgiving is a special time of year for many Americans, a time to focus on family and the blessings of the past year.
“It’s when the family comes home,” said Bonnie Roher, who along with her husband, Don, is organizing Wrangell’s 14th annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive.
The goal of the drive is to provide a complete Thanksgiving dinner for local residents, particularly for families facing illness or catastrophe, single-parent households, multiple-member families, and single individuals.
A traditional Thanksgiving dinner can be expensive – according to the Rohers’ rubric, the cost for a meal to feed a family of from four to six is $67.60, on average. A meal for seven or more people can cost at least $107.
The basket they provide includes everything one needs for a proper banquet: a full-bird turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, rolls, cranberries, corn, green beans, mixed fruit, pumpkin and evaporated milk for pie, and black olives.
The drive provided 83 such meals last year, but the Rohers anticipate more may be needed this year. They are drawing up a list so they can know how many to expect.
“We really need to know the numbers this year,” Don Roher said. While walk-ins never get turned away, he explained that in past years they can push resources to the limit. Those who would like to sign up for a meal or might know of someone who would can contact the Rohers at 305-0319.
This year’s drive will be the fifth held under the Wrangell Ministerial Association’s banner. Local congregations help to raise the money needed to assemble the meal baskets, which will be distributed Nov. 20 at Harbor Light Assembly of God Church, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Those wishing to contribute can bring check or money donations to any local church or the Rohers. For checks, write Thanksgiving basket in the memo.
“It’s easier on us,” Don said of donating money. Early on in the program, the couple discovered it was difficult to organize baskets with donated goods.
“A lot of it was not holiday foods,” Bonnie recounted. Instead, the two are hoping to raise $4,627 to buy the materials they will need. Any remaining funds then go toward the Salvation Army’s annual Angel Tree program for Christmas.
The Rohers will also be drumming up support from area businesses and organizations. Last year the Stikine Sportsmen Association and Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department helped, and local churches take special collections each year for the program.
They are also looking for bodies, suggesting it would be a good opportunity to give back.
“If people would like to volunteer it’s a lot of fun,” Don said.
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