Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels November 12, 2004 Holiday dinner needs help By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings For many Ashland residents, Thanksgiving is not the same without the popular Turkey Day dinner sponsored by Caring Friends. The event, in its 13th year, provides a free Thanksgiving meal for the entire community - from those who want to catch up with old friends and seniors alone for the holidays, to the homeless and college students unable to go home for Thanksgiving. As it does each year, Caring Friends, a nonprofit organization, is asking for the community's help donating turkeys, hams and other food items for the event. Whatever is left over is given to community members and those in need. Cori Tye-Couch, the Thanksgiving coordinator and board president of Caring Friends said, so far, they have received only a few donations. "It's been real slow," she said. "It hasn't really hit yet." Tye-Couch said they normally average anywhere from 125 to 200 donated turkeys and said she believes things will pick up. "This is our 13th year, and it normally tends to take care of itself when word gets out that we're doing it again," she said. The Thanksgiving dinner and Caring Friends was founded by local restaurant owner Marty Bryant. When Bryant moved here, he was surprised to learn there was no community Thanksgiving celebrations in town and decided "to give it a try." Bryant said he has been pleased the event has grown each year and has become such a focal point for Thanksgiving celebrations in town. "Every year, it gets bigger than the year before," he said. "It's a staple now and is expected. I haven't called it a Thanksgiving meal for a few years; I call it a great spirit because if you go, you feel the warmth and kindness (of the community)." Bryant said he looks forward to the day each year. "It's probably one of the best days of my life," he said. "It's amazing to see the support for it from the community. If it wasn't for the community, it would have failed its first year." The number of people in attendance varies each year, with 500 to 800 usually participating, Bryant said. About 100 to 175 volunteers help out each year, he said. Volunteers include students from Ashland Middle School, who make pies and peel potatoes. Eunice Rosenfeld of Talent has volunteered to help out at the celebration for all 13 years. "It's great because it draws a lot of people that have nowhere else to go," she said. "I think Marty walks on water, because he started this and he's really into helping others." Bryant said cans of food and dry goods can be dropped off at his restaurant, Fast Break Cafe & Grill, located at 60 Lowe Road near Interstate 5, and at Rock-N-Rolla's, located at 545 Clover Lane. Perishable items such as turkeys and hams can be dropped off at the Irish Pub, at 137 E. Main St. The dinner will be held on Nov. 25 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Oregon National Guard building at 1420 E. Main St. For more information, or to volunteer, call Cori Tye-Couch at 245-6980. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams