香蕉传媒

This Thanksgiving, 香蕉传媒 hosted the 36th annual Twin Ports Region Thanksgiving Day Buffet at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC). This tradition brings together Twin Ports neighbors for a gathering filled with generosity and gratitude.

鈥淚t means a lot to us at St. Scholastica; it鈥檚 a real big part of our mission and our values,鈥� shared Monica Hendrickson, the event organizer, with . 鈥淎nd for those of us on the leadership committee, we all come from different backgrounds, but we all believe in one thing, and that鈥檚 giving back to our community.鈥�

Over 700 volunteers dedicated their time in preparation for the event, with efforts starting weeks in advance. Hendrickson shared with that the effort took an estimated 1,000 hours to fully prepare and set up. 鈥淲e were prepping all week. Everything is a traditional meal, and we make everything from scratch, so hopefully it鈥檚 as good as what you would have at your grandma鈥檚,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e making food for over 7,000 people today.鈥�

鈥淲e have volunteers, obviously, the day of. That鈥檚 where we have our biggest crews,鈥� Hendrickson continued with . 鈥淏ut then, throughout the week, we have various family teams that come in to volunteer. We have corporate teams that come in to volunteer, and it鈥檚 kind of the same people year after year.鈥�

The event holds significance for many, including the community members who attend and volunteer. Longtime volunteer David Baker noted, 鈥淚 think the most important thing is we have the time and the opportunity. It鈥檚 something we鈥檝e done every year for the past few years, and it鈥檚 something we can do to give back to the community.鈥�

In addition to serving meals at the DECC, volunteers spent the day delivering food to homebound individuals across the Twin Ports. also spoke with lead volunteer Kala Pedersen, who helped coordinate the home delivery meal list throughout the month of November: 鈥淚t鈥檚 really special to be able to reach these people around the holidays and make them feel hope and support from our community. It鈥檚 a community effort, and I think that Duluth really shows up for our community for Thanksgiving because of this event.鈥�

We want to thank our many volunteers as well as our major sponsors, supporting sponsors and community donors. Their support made this year鈥檚 community event possible. We couldn鈥檛 do this without you!