The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance is hosting a free dinner on Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, at 12 p.m. at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall, 2250 E. Eighth St., for anyone in Ellis County who wants to participate. They will also be giving away sacks of food.
The Rev. Kyle Ermoian, member of the ECMA and pastor of Celebration Community Church in Hays, has been helping to feed the community for more than 20 years, and this is the seventh year the ECMA has hosted the dinner. Ermoian encourages any Fort Hays State University student to come to the dinner to eat and/or volunteer.
Last year, the ECMA expected 300 guests and ended up having 617. This year they are expecting close to 700 guests. Close to 120 people volunteered to help last year, and the ECMA would like to have 150 volunteers this year.
“It takes a big team effort to make this stuff happen,” Ermoian said.
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Anyone can come out and take a sack of food home. There are no eligibility requirements, according to Ermoian. Any student who has to stay in Hays for Thanksgiving is welcome to come by, eat, and take home a sack of food.
The Rose Garden SteakHaus and Catering will be preparing the food and is making enough food for 800 people. Pam Burgardt, owner of the Rose Garden, said her staff of 20 will be preparing 60 turkeys and 60 hams, along with mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, dinner rolls, coleslaw and an assortment of pies.
Volunteers will serve the food and help with the ham carving stations.
“We like to give back to the community, and this is our way of doing that,” Burgardt said. The Rose Garden also gives back by donating leftover food from lunch and caterings throughout the year to church groups to hand out.
For the Thanksgiving dinner, the ECMA pays $8 dollars per diner to the Rose Garden so it can order the food. The Rose Garden does not take food donations.
Linda Mills, executive director of First Call for Help, 205 E. Seventh St., Suite 204, is the contact point for those wanting to help with the Thanksgiving dinner.
First Call was incorporated in 1996 to help churches in the area serve people in need. First Call for Help provides services such as housing assistance, help with utilities, Meals on Wheels, Backpacks for Kids and points families in need to other area resources, according to Mills.
About 16 to 17 percent of the Ellis County population is below the federal poverty line, and these percentages go up a little every year, according to Mills.
Volunteers can call 785-623-2800 or simply show up, and are asked what they would be interested in helping with, the hours they are available to work, and if they are interested in food prep.
The Access Van is available for available to transport individuals needing a ride. Individuals may contact Access at 785-621-2078.