After the original building at Roser Memorial Community Church was dedicated to the congregation by John M. Roser in 1913, it became a gathering place for the community.
To that end, the church will host the 13th annual Roser Community Thanksgiving Dinner at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, in the Fellowship Hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.
Today the church says the dinner is “a celebration of all our blessings … for anyone who needs a place to share a meal in the presence of family and friends.”
The church prepares for more than 200 guests for the holiday, volunteer Marcia Powers said. “Wherever there is a table, we try to seat people.”
Edna Sinnott organized many of the earlier dinners, Powers said. Today 100 volunteers are involved in food preparation, dining hall setup and decoration, dinner management and cleanup.
Volunteer Mary Coughlin said she enjoys the camaraderie of food preparation, which begins at least three weeks before the holiday. Volunteers cook and freeze potatoes in advance. They prepare dressing and vegetables on the day before Thanksgiving. Others bake pies or roast large turkeys at home on Thanksgiving morning and bring them to the church kitchen for another team to carve and serve.
Volunteer Suzanne Pescitelli says no guests will go away hungry.
Powers, a member of the church for more than 40 years, said the dinner was conceived as a gathering of seniors who no longer cooked the holiday feast and couples who did not have family members coming to the island for the holiday.
“It’s just a joyous day,” Coughlin said.
Volunteer Barbara Dohner said the popular annual event is wonderful to have on the island, “that people can come and share Thanksgiving, and I’m glad to help.”
Anyone is welcome, although the church expects to reach its capacity before Thanksgiving Day.
Free-will offerings will be accepted. Some carryout meals have been made available in recent years and leftovers go to Our Daily Bread of Bradenton, a community organization devoted to feeding the hungry.
A service of Thanksgiving will be held at 10 a.m. Thanksgiving Day in the chapel for the volunteers and any guests who want to attend.
For more information, call 941-778-0414.
Peeling hot sweet potatoes to prepare them for a Thanksgiving Day dinner casserole Nov. 18 at Roser Memorial Community Church are Marcia Powers, left, Mary Coughlin, Suzanne Pescitelli and Barbara Dohner. Islander Photo: Ed Scott
Edna Sinnott, left, who organized many of the earlier Thanksgiving Day dinners at Roser Memorial Community Church, stands near Nancy Carson, who is serving punch at the fifth annual Roser Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Day in 2006. Islander Courtesy Photo: Roser Memorial Community Church
Mary Coughlin, left, Marcia Powers, Barbara Dohner and Suzanne Pescitelli peel hot sweet potatoes to be served on Thanksgiving at Roser Memorial Community Church. Islander Photo: Ed Scott
The Rev. Bob O’Keef offers a prayer at the 2014 Thanksgiving dinner. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy