Volunteers prepare for Hollandale supper
Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 1, 2001
HOLLANDALE – The kitchen and lunchroom at Hollandale Christian School has transformed into a flurry of activity as volunteers prepare for the school’s annual fall supper Friday.
Thursday, November 01, 2001
HOLLANDALE – The kitchen and lunchroom at Hollandale Christian School has transformed into a flurry of activity as volunteers prepare for the school’s annual fall supper Friday.
The menu is turkey, ham, Hollandale potatoes and carrots, gravy, stuffing, baked beans, baked apples, cranberry sauce, Chinese cabbage salad, and assorted desserts. It’s served family-style.
To feed between 800 and 900 people, that calls for 400 pounds of turkey, 100 pounds of ham, 400 pounds of potatoes, 15 gallons of beans, 6 bushels of apples, 10 gallons of cranberries, 25 pounds of butter, 28 gallons of milk, 800 cups of coffee, 880 pieces of dessert and 70 dozen buns, plus gravy, stuffing, carrots and salad. It takes 28 roasters to get the job done.
On Wednesday, volunteers set out to borrow roasters from throughout the community and tables from all the churches in town. This morning, the potato peelers arrived, along with those preparing the cabbage, celery and stuffing.
Friday morning, still another committee reports to butter the 70 dozen buns and divide the 10 gallons of cranberries into smaller containers, while others cook the meal. Grandmothers prepare the pans of dessert for the meal.
Countless others have donated the actual food. From the growers in Hollandale to Mrs. Gerry’s Kitchen, Ventura Foods, Rolling Green Jerseys, and many others, this is truly a community effort, said organizer Joan Godeke.
It’s something people like to support, she said. Members of the community start calling in September to see if the date has been set so they can save it.
It’s no small task. Last year, 925 people were fed at the supper, and from the freewill offerings received totaling $5,300, the fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders all got new desks.
&uot;They were really needed,&uot; Godeke said. &uot;Some of their dads on the school board had been in those desks.&uot;
In addition, the Harmony Helpers, the mothers of students at the school who organize the supper, donate money to the school to help keep the tuition down for all students.
Godeke said early in the school year, a list was put out to school families asking for volunteers to help. &uot;Normally, we have to do some calling to fill the slots,&uot; she said. &uot;This year, we did a minimum amount of calling – three calls. They just jumped right in.&uot;
She said the meal is simply a way for community members to pull together. &uot;This year, more than ever, with what our country’s been through, we’re pulling together. Plus, with it being the Thanksgiving season, it’s time to take stock of the fact that we’ve been truly blessed.&uot;
The supper is served from 4-7 p.m. at the school, and the public is welcome.