The Riverbank Rotary organized a Community Thanksgiving Dinner for the first time this year, with the meal served up last week at the Scout Hall in Riverbank. Rotary members plan to make this an annual event and several volunteers helped make the meal a success.

Seating was limited so people with low incomes and those that are less fortunate that were suggested by organizations within the community were invited to dine. The guests were served turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, rolls and some pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream. To wash it all down diners were offered juice, soda, coffee, hot chocolate and apple cider.

Although the Scout Hall is a bit small they fed approximately 100 people and next year they may move the dinner to a different venue.

There were volunteers that helped set up, that served, and that helped throughout the dinner including friends and family as well as businesses that helped with their time and donations like United Methodist Church, Howard Training Center, Nichole Foster from Stearns Lending, Shamira from Mona Lisa Beauty Salon, Kimberly Bizzaneli from A1 Best Rentals, and Lana Clayton with Farmers Insurance.

“I believe it was a good event for being the first time,” stated Ana Merlo, Riverbank Rotary President. “We did not have all the people that RSVP’d come but we were able to share food for a Thanksgiving meal for the next day to all that came.”

Merlo also thanked the City of Riverbank for its help in putting on the Community Thanksgiving Dinner.