Two Communities Commit to Exemplary Meals Provided From Home Town “People Who Care”

Sixteen turkeys and 100 pounds of mashed potatoes . . . 

Will the total number of anticipated dinner guests show up? What if too many people arrive, exceeding the food resources? In either case, small towns that commit to providing free holiday community meals often devise “just in case” plans. Black Diamond and Maple Valley, two cities just six miles apart, both scheduled their Thanksgiving meals on the same day this year, one at 11:00 am and the other at 3:00 pm. But the two communities can now raise a toast to success – their goals were accomplished. 

Black Diamond has served community turkey dinners for the past 11 years. Its origin began with Black Diamond Elementary School’s PTA. As numbers of dinner guests (and thus the cost) continued to rise over the years, Kiwanis stepped in with full community resources. Year 2019 saw nine sponsors and support from seven businesses, group members and donors. Kiwanis president Valerie Westover and Cindy Brown with PTA gave oversight for volunteers. Kiwanis and PTA plans called for 350 meals. It would cover both in-house attendance and take home meals. Maple Valley Food Bank, on the other hand, began their tradition of serving holiday meals just last year in 2018. Their “very-first community dinner” was prepared primarily with clients in mind, a group of about 60. This year the Food Bank transitioned to a “hoped-for” attendance of about 250 diners. Just one hour past their official “dinner-is-ready” at 3:00 pm, diners had totaled 152. QFC had agreed to be the emergency “standby” in case a food delivery rescue was needed.

A whole community seemed to be in bright red aprons while working at “Black Diamond

Cafe,” the cleverly conceived name for Black Diamond Elementary School’s lunchroom. It was also the location for the Kiwanis holiday meal. An impressive community of children, teens, and entire families along with members of PTA, Kiwanis, Key Club, and BD Arts Alliance were all center stage at the Café. The expansive cafeteria-like locale within the fairly new school building easily could accommodate 300+ turkey dinner guests. A vast array of participants brought in home cooked favorite holiday dishes 

throughout the two-hour event, while others did on-site cooking at the stove, oven, and microwave in the Café. PTA brought in a wide variety of desserts with some that catered to alternate tastes and options – gluten and sugar free. Children did the legwork to provide second helpings, soft drinks, water and the popular family favorite, milk.  “Is there anything else you need?” was their common refrain.  Popular music and hometown history via guitar and harmonica appealed to the attendees, many of whom were familiar with, and proud of, their hometown entertainer Steve Israel, with Fran Wold on mandolin. The whole evening had charm similar to going home for the holidays.

Maple Valley Food Bank anticipated hosting a large “community” holiday event as a tradition in their future. They moved the event from their previous location in a crowded conference room at the Food Bank to a large and very classy venue – Lake Wilderness Lodge with a waterfront view from the dining hall. Volunteers in the parking lots greeted guests while waving and grinning hello as they gave drivers precise parking directions. Dan Lancaster, Food Bank director, personally welcomed guests at the front door of the lodge. Near him was a hosted courtesy table with nametags available to assist FB clients and the community in “getting to know you” while seated for dinner. The dining tables were covered with linen tablecloths and red napkins along with silverware and distinctive glassware. The decor alone made guests feel special this holiday. The appealing ambience continued with classical music by Maple Valley Youth Symphony. ACT3 Catering, a 30-year company, served its featured holiday menu. Of course it included pumpkin pie, but there was an added feature – men surveying the room to dispense whipping cream in wallops.  The whole dining room scenario was accomplished through volunteer work. Maple Valley Food Bank staff defined it as, “provided by people who care about others.”

Black Diamond and Maple Valley thanksgiving dinner guests experienced feelings shared by their hosts, Kiwanis/PTA and the Food Bank. Whether the dinners were in-house or boxed take-home, the free community meals served up sumptuous turkey, mashed and sweet potatoes, cranberries, casseroles and dessert, all on plates filled with love.