It’s the largest Thanksgiving dinner in Fremont County. In past years, 700 people have attended, sharing food, friendship, and community unity at the Fremont County Fairgrounds in Riverton.
“This is the third year where we are feeding people at the fairgrounds,” Alma Law said. “This is a conglomerate, a falling together of many things.”
The groups helping with the annual Riverton Community Thanksgiving Meal are as varied as the people who attend.
The meal takes place on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, from 11 am to 1 pm at the Fremont Center on the Fremont County Fairgrounds.
“I want to feed people, not just send food out and drop it off,” Law said.
He has helped with the Riverton High School Key Club for the past dozen years. The Key Club has been involved for two decades.
“Jack Schmidt always helps us carve birds,” Law said. “Soldier’s House is doing a similar thing, delivering hot meals to vets all over Riverton and Lander and having people come eat in person.”
Rowena Bland is a major contributor to the event. Bland is the owner of the Depot and the Trailhead Restaurants in Riverton. She opens her kitchen at the Trailhead on the Tuesday before the event to the Soldier’s House to prepare the stuffing.
“Rowena has been a contributor and feeding all the groups that come together for Thanksgiving,” Law said. “She came to Jack and me and said there are so many things happening can we come together? That was 4 years ago.”
There are many contributors and many more individuals who donate to the event.
“Key Club is a strong part of this. Kiwanis runs everything through Key Club. When I was managing the Key Club meal delivery the Rotary arranged to take care of all the pans of green bean casserole,” Law said. “They bring in green bean casserole for the whole meal, for 700 people.”
The Key Club also had a box giveaway, partnering with the Way of the Cross Seekers Youth Group last Saturday at Riverton High School. Key Club continues to help this week, setting up, taking down and serving at the Thanksgiving Day dinner.
“The Rotary helped us connect with other groups. Lions Club donated all the funds for mashed potatoes,” Law said. “It’s fantastic how much collaboration and cooperation there is.”
Kelly Gard, the culinary arts teacher at Riverton High School, has her students make rolls for 500 people.
Foundations for Nations provides stuffing and flour for rolls.
First Interstate Bank of Riverton has purchased pies for the event.
The Riverton Senior Center is an organizer.
“They take the phone calls and fill the spreadsheet with volunteers, direct people to WRTA for rides, this year they’re helping with the kitchen space to cook the turkeys,” Law said. “The last two years, James Bunker has smoked turkeys for us, but without Bunk’s Barbeque, he can’t do it this year.”
Pepsi provides water and beverages.
“Amanda Henry at Brown Sugar Roastery provides hot cider, coffee, and hot chocolate,” Law said. “The Mennonites are going to sing.”
WyoToday is donating sound equipment, and Rusty Harris will be the master of ceremonies.
“Job Corp Students will help cook, clean up, and eat with us,” Law said. “Set Free Church is helping with that.”
Eagles Hope is also helping with cleanup, set up and cooking.
“A lot of Rowena’s distributors are donating other things, like whipped topping, extra rolls,” Law said. “Kimberly Kusel is donating cranberry sauce.”
Over 100 volunteers from the community show up every year to help.
“It’s been really nice since we’ve been at the fairgrounds; we invite people to come eat a piece of pie and stay with us,” Law said. “We’re not feeding them, we’re activating more of us. People that are going to be alone, that’s us. People who could afford it, but like a big room are able to donate next year, that’s us too. Anybody who feels like being in a large group, should be with us.”
Food Sovereignty of Ft Washakie is donating 10 pies from the pumpkins they grew. Rotarians are donating sugar-free pies for diabetics.
“Andy Anderson, part of the Coalition of Christian Bikers, jumped in this year; last year, they tried to do the same thing at Heritage Hall,” Law said. “Scotty Ratliff and Father Drew Duncan are saying a blessing. Father Drew wanted to make this what his St. Stephen’s congregation supports.”
Jack Schmidt will roast half the turkeys and be the door greeter, while his daughter Jill makes the cranberry sauce.
“I have a few people joining me at CWC all day Wednesday,” Law said. “We rely on everybody that comes together. We’ve still never covered sweet potatoes, if there’s a group that wants to bring them, please do.”
Claire Manning is a key to the event.
“Claire brought the organization together the last few years, she does press releases and organizes,” Law said. “She is a force.”
Behind the scenes, the Riverton Chamber of Commerce provided meeting space, and Central Wyoming College fills in as well.
“I cry as much as I eat at how hard everyone has worked,” Law said. “It’s beautiful to see this happen.”
Once again, the event runs from 11 am to 1 pm at the Fremont Center on the Fremont County Fairgrounds in Riverton.