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A free community Thanksgiving meal will be served to anyone dealing with food insecurity at the Greenville Moose Lodge, located at 5809 S. Greenville Road, just north of Greenville in Eureka Township, on Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. The dinner is being provided by the Danish Cultural Center, Montcalm County Habitat for Humanity and the Moose Lodge. — DN Photo | Cory Smith
EUREKA TOWNSHIP — Three local organizations are coming together this holiday season to provide a free Thanksgiving meal to anyone who may be struggling to celebrate the occasion.
On Thursday, from noon to 3 p.m., an inaugural Community Thanksgiving Meal, organized by the Danish Cultural Center, Montcalm County Habitat for Humanity and the Greenville Moose Lodge, will be held at the lodge, located at 5809 S. Greenville Road just north of Greenville.
According to Susan Hoppough, who serves as president of both the Habitat and Cultural Center boards, the concept for a community dinner came about in part when SNAP benefits were temporarily placed on hold at the start of the month.
As a result of that pause, many families who rely on SNAP funds to put food on the table were left scrambling — securing items at local food shelters or forgoing payments of other bills — to feed themselves and their families.
“We are hosting this dinner for individuals who have food insecurity, due to snap funding or other reasons, or any of our elderly in the community who might be alone this Thanksgiving,” she said. “We’re not checking anyone’s credentials — anyone is welcome and we won’t turn anyone away — but we are focusing on people who may not have the resources right now.”
Hoppough, who has an educational background in family and child ecology, said the idea struck her after she attended a recent Habitat conference with Montcalm Habitat Executive Director Michael Adams.
“I just began to think that we could do something in our community for those that have food insecurity, so I texted Michael — ‘Do you think it’d be crazy if we partnered?’” she said.
“That would be a great idea,” Adams answered. “How about we include the Moose Lodge, too?”
As Adams is also affiliated with the Moose Lodge, he knew the location would be able to accommodate a large number of people for the dinner if needed.
“We feel that nobody should spend Thanksgiving alone or hungry,” Adams said.
According to Hoppough, the free meal will consist of ham, roasted potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, cranberries, baked beans and dessert options.
Hoppough said the majority of food items thus far have been donated by other local agencies and individuals.
“Morning Glow Coffee donated 150 pounds of potatoes and is loaning us their big coffee pot for coffee,” she said. “Matt Stone of First Church of God is donating his TOV coffee services, and I just picked up food from the Church of the Nazarene, which has provided us with some of the side dishes. And then Samaritan Health, they are providing sides and volunteers as well.”
Hoppough said the event is currently being planned to accommodate between 250 and 300 people.
“We thought we would limit it to 200, but as we talked to the people who are serving the community, they all said, ‘you’re probably going to have more,’” she said. “We don’t want anyone to be turned away. It will be set up as a buffet, but a served buffet, so we can control portion size because we don’t want to run out.”
Additionally, Hoppough said there will be music entertainment and educational resources provided at the community dinner.
Any leftovers will be donated to area food pantries, as well as Have Mercy.
If the event goes well, Hoppough is hopeful it will be the first of many, adding that it falls in line with the missions of all three agencies.
“It’s in line with how the Danes think, getting together, eating — it’s a very ‘hygge’ approach to the holidays,” she said. “And with Habitat, it directly aligns with their mission as well, to make sure people have homes and comfort. It all kind of fits together. We’ve got lots of volunteers and lots of support. That just goes to show that it’s a very nicely supported community meal.”
Anyone interested in attending is asked to make a reservation on the Facebook event page at facebook.com/events/876728858257283.
If you are unable to make your reservation online, you may also call the Habitat ReStore at (616) 754-5014 or the Greenville Moose Lodge at (616) 754-8115.
Any questions can be directed to the Cultural Center at dccgcontract@gmail.com.
