2nd Annual Community Thanksgiving set at Kay Room

by Charles Gerian

For the second year in a row, Brett and Nelda Shipman are bringing a free Thanksgiving Day meal to residents of Blackwell and the surrounding areas on Nov. 28 at the Kay Room on Doolin Avenue. 

According to the Shipmans, volunteers are already collecting donations from various local business and organizations that will be used to help fund the meal. 

“Last year, we had very generous donations from Blackwell Dentistry, Shepherd Oil, Blackwell Walmart, Hutton Pharmacy, United, the K-Up Foundation, Kay County Farm Bureau, Beatty Trust, Kathy Brown Tag Agency, and Davis Sanitation, while the Wheatheart Nutrition Center donated their equipment to be used and Kay Electric donated the Kay Room,” Brett Shipman said. “Several individuals donated as well. With the funds remaining from last year's collections, we don't have to collect as much this year, but donations and volunteers are still needed.” 

Last year, the group distributed free tickets in order to “track” the number of people who would attend the meal. They printed and gave away 504 tickets, a plan which worked in theory, they said. But only 275 meals were actually served. This year, the Shipmans are going “ticketless,” meaning that anyone who shows up will receive a meal. 

This year's meal will take place Thanksgiving Day from 12 noon to 3 p.m. or until food supplies run out. The meal will include turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, turkey gravy, dinner rolls, and dessert.

The group is still looking for more volunteers in the community to help them. 

“We will need volunteers to help serve the food, several to deliver meals to the homebound, and some to help us clean up at the Kay Room,” said Nelda Shipman. 

Those who wish to volunteer can contact Karen Fultz at 580-363-1977 or Nelda Shipman at 580-363-7415. A meeting will be held at the Kay Room for all volunteers at 3 p.m. Nov. 24 so that the organizers can rehearse the event.