Mesquite Hosts Thanksgiving Feast

By JIM CANFIELD

Moapa Valley Progress

The City of Mesquite celebrated its 16th annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Wednesday, November 21 at the Mesquite Senior Center. By 12:00 noon the center was already filled with guests.

Aaron Baker of the City of Mesquite said he expected between 1500 and 2000 guests before the event ended at 6 pm.

Baker expressed appreciation to local business and groups who had helped make the meal possible by donating money and supplies for the dinner.
“We do purchase some of the food and supplies ourselves,” Baker said. “Basically, everything not donated we have to provide from our budget. We bought 720 pounds of turkey breast to ensure we have enough for everyone.”

The annual dinner is a truly community-driven event, Baker said. Everyone in Mesquite and the surrounding areas were welcome an invited to participate.

With such a large-scale meal, volunteers were needed. More than 80 people volunteered in serving the food. “We definitely couldn’t do it without them,” said Baker of the volunteer efforts. “We actually have groups of volunteers rotating every hour to serve the guests. All this is backed by a staff of professionals in the kitchen.”

Ryan and Kena Toone have volunteered at the event for the past 6 years. “We love doing this because it gives us a chance to give back to the community,” they said.
“We love Mesquite’s community spirit and a chance to be with friends and neighbor,” said Mesquite Mayor Allan Litman who greeted guests as they arrived.

Griseyda Belalcazar, supervisor for the community center, said that, in addition to the 2,000 plus dinners served, more than 200 dinners had been delivered to homebound individuals throughout the community. In addition, food trucks made deliveries to both Highland Manor and Green Willow senior care facilities.

Belalcazar also mentioned that the volunteers would work non-stop throughout the weekend, not just the day of the dinner.

Belalcazar was thrilled to provide many of the miniature houses and shops displayed in a very large Christmas Village that took up an entire corner of the center during the feast. All the rooms were decorated for the holidays and holiday music played while diners enjoyed the food and atmosphere.