The Crookston Annual Thanksgiving Dinner returns this year on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Crookston Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. It has been going on for nearly 40 years, and this year the event will be drive-through only.
Lester Wilkens and Gaye Wick are once again helping with the event this year, and Wilkens provided some origin to how it got started. “It was started back in the old St. Anne’s church by six different families,” said Wilkens. “They got together with extra food that they had leftover and thought next year why not put it all together and advertise for the people who don’t have anyone to be with or have the means. Why not supply some people with a good meal if you can?”
Wick says it’s been a great success over the years, and it’s always fun to get everyone back together and see the diverse groups. “It’s a lot of fun when we get together, and we have quite a few diverse groups every year,” said Wick. “Some people come because they don’t have anyone to spend Thanksgiving with, and others come with their families. We also get some of the homeless people to attend. It’s always a good time, and everyone enjoys it.”
Last year was also a drive-through event due to COVID-19, and they anticipated 320 people to pre-register for the event. Wilkens said, however, that over 400 people pre-registered last year, and they expect that number to increase or stay the same again this year. There is no charge for the meal, and everything is homecooked and handmade.
Wick went through a list of what those who register can expect when it comes to the food. “We have Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Vegetables, Turkey, a bun, and Pumpkin Pie,” said Wick. “We used to have Sweet Potatoes and a few other things, but there just isn’t room for that in the containers now that we’re doing the drive-through.”
The Golden Link will be baking all the Turkeys this year, and all the pies will be made at the Cathedral. Wilkens also added that this is a social function and not a religious function by any church in Crookston, and all are welcome and invited to attend.
You can call Lester Wilken’s home phone number at 218-281-5727 to reserve your traditional Thanksgiving meal. Just leave a message stating how many people you plan on showing up with so there can be preparation to make the right amount of food. Any extra food from the event will be taken to the Crookston Care & Share, so nothing gets wasted.
