The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Wolcott Tech offers food, fellowship for Thanksgiving
TORRINGTON — For more than three decades, local residents have been able to gather for Thanksgiving dinner at Oliver Wolcott Technical School — a long-standing city tradition which is set to continue Thursday.
Organizer Christine Dickinson said Tuesday that culinary staff will prepare meals for 500 people, while students in the program will wait tables during the Thursday afternoon dinner.
Between 250 and 300 people are expected to come out for the event, with another 150 meals delivered to homebound residents by volunteers.
Dickson, a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and the president of the Oliver Wolcott Tech PTO, said she has helped organize the annual event for 15 years. It’s her favorite thing to do each year, she said.
“I just want to see people enjoy the holiday as much as they can,” Dickinson said.
Dickinson said Oliver Wolcott staff donate the food each year, a process led by OWT Athletic Director and instructor Ray Tanguay.
Kelly Transit, the usual driver for the Community Soup Kitchen, provides transportation to the event, and children at the city YMCA make placemats to use at the dinner. She coordinates volunteers to deliver meals.
“It’s a huge community effort. It’s a huge school effort,” Dickinson said.
The effort provides people in need a chance to come together for food and conversation on the holiday, and homebound people the chance to see someone and talk, Dickinson said.
“It’s very, very important to the people in the surrounding area to have fellowship,” Dickinson said.
This is the 35th annual iteration of the annual Thanksgiving dinner.
The dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school, 75 Oliver St., on Thanksgiving Day. The meal is free, and reservations are not required.
“Anyone who does not have a place to go or those who otherwise will be alone (individuals or families) on Thanksgiving Day are welcome to come to the luncheon,” said Dickinson in the release.