Dickinson State University (DSU) is excited to open its doors for the annual Dickinson Community Thanksgiving Dinner 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 25. Last year, COVID-19 necessitated the dinner be a drive-thru event. This year, the community will be able to enjoy the meal in person, satisfying both the need for food and to be together.
The dinner is free for everyone and will be held at The Perch in the lower level of DSU’s Student Center. Meals will also be delivered 11 a.m.-noon Thanksgiving Day to those who can’t make it to DSU. Anyone interested in having a meal delivered can call Sandy Nelson at 701-290-7509 between 9 a.m.-7 p.m. The last day to order for delivery is Nov. 23.
The community dinner is well-named because it is a meal for the community by the community and is sponsored entirely by volunteers and donations. In addition to free-will donations from the public, this year’s major contributors are Marathon Oil, Braun Distributing, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Dickinson Ready Mix, and Baker Boy.
The committee has planned for 1200 meals, 600 at DSU and 600 delivered, and the menu includes turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, corn, stuffing, and pies.
According to Sodexo General Manager Aaron Zummer, Sodexo Dining Services is working with Marathon on preparation and service. “We will be preparing the meal,” said Zummer, “and they will be serving it here at The Perch as well as making the deliveries.” Additionally, each year a Blue Hawk athletic team helps wherever they are needed, and this year the DSU women’s softball team will be helping.
“Being connected to and serving our community is a vital part of DSU and Sodexo,” said Zummer, “so we are proud we can contribute to this long-standing Dickinson tradition.”
The origin of the community dinner is credited to the late Dominic Pereira, a deacon at Queen of Peace Church. Started in 1984, the meal was managed by the Knights of Columbus until the KC Club closed and volunteers took over.
Will Davidson and his wife, Staci, are overseeing the 2021 event. Eight years ago, having moved to Dickinson from Texas, they had no family nearby for the holiday, so they volunteered to help with the dinner. They’ve been volunteering since then and have been committee members for the last five years, with this being their first year in charge of the occasion.
The Dickinson Community Thanksgiving Dinner has become a family tradition for the Davidsons and their two kids, who are both now in high school. “This is an annual event made possible only because a group of people come together,” said Will Davidson. “For us, it’s an opportunity as a family to give back to the community; it’s something we plan for and look forward to every year. I especially look forward to seeing the same faces I’ve seen over the years.”
Anyone interested in volunteering can call Staci Davidson at 701-590-8996 between 2-6 p.m. through Nov. 23. For any other questions, call Will Davidson at 701-290-3100.
Donations to the project can be mailed to Dickinson Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Box 604, Dickinson, ND 58601.
