Photo:  Jim Magill refills a guest’s glass during one of last year’s dinners     Photo by Mike Turner

On Thanksgiving, while most are enjoying a meal with family and friends, members of St. John’s Episcopal Church will be serving Thanksgiving dinner to over 100 guests at the Cranmer Memorial Church in downtown Winter Park. This meal begins the 20th season of generous giving to our community.

What started with members inviting newly arrived workers into their homes for a home-cooked meal has blossomed to an every other Friday night event during ski season. The dinners are set to take place in-between Winter Park Resort pay dates.

Various organizations in the valley cover the alternating Friday Nights by hosting dinners throughout the winter season, beginning with Thanksgiving. Other participating organizations include Winter Park Resort, the Jewish Community, Mountain Family Center, Fraser Valley Lions Club and more. Their support of these dinners allows the program to continue each year. With the exception of the Jewish Community and Winter Park Resort, participating organizations provide the side dishes, desserts and servers. The main course is then prepared by Jim Magill and Gary Piper, who regularly “borrow” ovens from friends and neighbors to complete their task. According to Magill, since the program started, they have served over 25,000 meals. The season will finish off with the last dinner scheduled for March 29, 2019.

The Cranmer Chapel Community Dinners are non-denominational and all members of the community are welcome. The next meal, provided by Winter Park Resort, is set for Friday, December 7th, from 5-7 pm. Future dates will be listed throughout the season in our Community Calendar.