Extra heart seasons Thanksgiving dinners for community

Thanksgiving typically gives families and friends quality time to get together and smile amid so many blessings.

However for folks who are alone or without family, or in need, other families ring a special dinner bell with wide open welcome mats to help make the holiday a little happier.

In Georgetown, two traditions continue with plenty of traction year after year.

The Joseph M. Ros Sr. Knights of Columbus Council 3067’s “Thanksgiving for Those In Need” will be 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, for dine in or takeout, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall, 317 Broad St., behind the office.

Colin Peterson, a coordinator, said the teamwork of 25 to 30 Knights and family members and volunteers for this annual gift to the community is extra special this year as a memorial to “one of our key players,” Gabriel “Gabe” Timpano, who died in September at age 92 and was involved with various charities such as Angels with Hammers, Society of St. Vincent De Paul, and Birthright of Georgetown.

“He had been working with us longer than I have been here,” Peterson said of this program in its third decade, “and he worked with us last year.”

Peterson said 500 to 600 meals are prepared every year, and a number of platters are delivered to Pawleys Island Meals on Wheels and some area assisted living sites, as well other people without transportation.

With leadership from fellow co-chairmen Paul Duncan and Jim Harrelson, the head cook and a longtime chef, Peterson said the tasks of cooking the food and “fixings” are spread among the help. Peterson also said he loves to “prepare veggies all night” with his granddaughter for this cause.

After his part in dishing out Thanksgiving Day meals and its work involving “odd, long hours,” Peterson said, he always looks forward that night with his granddaughter to joining “a good family friend” who does “a large shindig for 20-25 – part of our tradition.”

Charles Johnson and wife Andrea Johnson love celebrating Thanksgiving at their restaurant, Aunny’s Country Kitchen, 926 Front St., Georgetown, by serving everyone with a complimentary meal on the holiday, for seven years now.

“Last year, we had 387 people,” Charles Johnson said, welcoming folks from across the city of Georgetown, “and this year, we’re expecting 425-450. Every year, it gets better.”

Johnson saluted a “tremendous volunteer” crew from the community who lend a hand, whether with donations of food, money or time.

“Certain people know us,” he said. “The second week of October, they start calling to ask how they can help.”

It doesn’t matter whether the diners on this day are homeless or “down on their luck,” or don’t want to cook for the holiday, or who lack family locally, Johnson said.

“For whatever reason, you don’t have to be alone,” he said, “because we’re all family when you come in that day.”

Asked about how Thanksgiving touches him, Johnson said the more years he’s on Earth, “the more significant” the holiday is to him, and that he’s thankful for being “an American, Christian, and of being able to help somebody.”

“That feeling of family,” he said, “make me feel good about this country. A lot of times, we forget about the greatness of this country. That one day, we just know we can come together as a nation, and put everything aside, ... and just say ‘Thank you.’ ”

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Extra heart seasons Thanksgiving dinners for community."