By Jake Palmateer
ONEONTA _ Although the annual St. Mary's Thanksgiving Dinner was at a new location this year, volunteers dished out hundreds of free meals to returning diners and newcomers alike.
St. Mary's Church has held the free turkey dinner since 1975 and in recent years, The Lord's Table has joined in the effort, coordinator Mary Ann Hartmann said.
Hartmann and coordinator Mary Southern said this year, with renovations ongoing at St. Mary's, the Oneonta Elks Club stepped up and allowed the groups to use their facility on Chestnut Street.
"We appreciate the Elks Club.
They are just fabulous," Southern said.
Church services have been moved temporarily to the parish center, where the dinner has traditionally been held.
More than a hundred volunteers turned out to help Wednesday and Thursday to cook and serve about 520 meals.
In addition to the Elks Club donating their space, Elks Club chef Greg D'Ambrosio also helped cook.
Volunteer drivers delivered about 160 meals to residents, while about 160 meals were taken home by people from the club.
About 200 people, including volunteers, ate at the club on Chestnut Street, where they were entertained by piano player Andrew Beckel of Shohola, Pa., Hartmann said.
Beckel's piano playing prompted some spontaneous dancing, volunteer Anton Bartee of White Plains said.
For Bartee, it was not just his
first time volunteering for the dinner; it was also his first time visiting Oneonta.
Bartee said he was invited to participate by a friend who lives in the city.
"I'm having a wonderful time," he said. "It gives me a great feeling to help those who are less fortunate than I am."
There were many returning diners and some new faces.
Etta Empie-Cook of Jefferson said she was a first-time guest for the dinner.
"It was fantastic. I loved it," Empie-Cook said.
Empie-Cook said she heard about the dinner through The Lord's Table feeding program and went with her friends, Andy Wayand of Oneonta and Sylvia Loft of Worcester.
Wayand said the volunteers put together a tasty and filling meal for everyone who attended.
"They are not going to go hungry today," he said.
The number of dinners served was down slightly from last year when 550 meals were served, but higher than three years ago when 350 meals were served.
