Still time for County Community Thanksgiving Dinner signups

James Beaty, McAlester News-Capital, Okla.
·2 min read

Nov. 20—Signups are still available for the 38th Annual Pittsburg County Community Thanksgiving Dinner — but time is growing short to register for the event.

This year the number to call to participate in the Community Thanksgiving Dinner is 918 423-7785.

It's available for answering during regular business hours this week up until noon on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the day before Thanksgiving, when the signup period ends.

This year's Community Thanksgiving Dinner is set for Thanksgiving Day, which is Thursday, Nov. 23, with pickups available at the Southeast Expo Center.

Pickups will be available beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday, said Pittsburg County Assessor Michelle Fields, one of the organizers of the event.

This year there will be no sit-down dinner at a central location, with all of the meals to be either picked up at the Expo Center or delivered by volunteers to those unable to make it to the site.

Those who are unable to come to the Expo Center to pick up the meals themselves can arrange for home deliveries in Pittsburg County, also by calling the 918 423-7785 number. Those needing home deliveries need to include a street address as well as directions that will be helpful to volunteers making deliveries.

County elected officials, members of their staff and community volunteers are once again offering a free holiday dinner to any Pittsburg County resident who wants to participate.

With no age, income or other guidelines in place, all anyone has to do to participate is call the number reserved for signup calls or else complete one of the signup sheets, available at various sites around the county.

Hartshorne and Haileyville residents can complete the signup form at Hartshorne City Hall by Tuesday. Nov. 21, or can contact City Hall at 918 297-2544.

Meals are expected to be available for pickup at Hartshorne City Hall between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23. Arrangements can be made for deliveries to homebound residents.

Lots of signups have been coming in so far, county officials said.

"We had more than 1,300 calls by Friday morning," said Pittsburg County Clerk Hope Trammel.

By Friday the number of signups had reached had grown even larger.

"We had 1,950 as of Friday at 5 p.m.," Fields said.