Thanksgiving together

The Carlton County Disabled American Veterans would like to invite everyone to Thanksgiving Dinner Thursday.

Whether you come to eat or to volunteer or both, all are welcome to the free community meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 22 at Zion

Lutheran Church, 1000 Washington Ave. in Cloquet. In addition to the sit-down meal, deliveries are available to homebound residents if they call Zion

at 218-879-4647 by Monday, Nov. 19, and carry-out meals are also available.

It is the second annual Thanksgiving dinner sponsored by the DAV, but probably about the 10th year for the community event. The DAV took over sponsorship last year after the College of St. Scholastica decided to pull out of the various satellite locations and concentrate efforts on one gigantic Thanksgiving Buffet at the DECC in Duluth.

That meant residents of Cloquet, Superior and Two Harbors had to find a way to Duluth if they wanted to enjoy a free Thanksgiving dinner.

That’s when the DAV stepped up locally.

“We took it over because we felt it was unreasonable for our county residents to have to drive to Duluth to receive a holiday meal,” said Chapter 18 DAV secretary/treasurer Raffy Johnson.

“The DAV has a large-enough membership and group of volunteers that it made sense for us to take on this campaign. Plus, we get a lot of support from the community as veterans, and it’s another little part of giving back.”

Tackling the logistics of such a large event might have been daunting to some, but Johnson was literally born to do it. His father, Dave Johnson, has been organizing the annual community Christmas dinner at Zion for close to 25 years, and he’s also had a hand in previous Thanksgiving efforts.

Dave Johnson said the Thanksgiving Dinner has been a bit of a hot potato.

“First it was put on by the Salvation Army, then St. Scholastica and the DECC,” the elder Johnson said. “It was at the Armory, then Zion, then Our Savior’s and everyone finally bowed out about a couple years ago.”

Raffy Johnson said the DAV got cash donations of $2,000 each from the Cloquet Eagles Club along with the Irving Community Club in conjunction with the Cloquet Labor Temple, where they sell pull tabs. They also get in-kind help from other local businesses, and Kim and John Lind of the B&B help with planning and food costs as well.

“People pull together,” he said. “It’s really nice.”

It takes a small army of volunteers to run the event, from food preparation to serving, entertainment and cleanup. They like to have volunteers sign up in advance — Raffy Johnson said the first 100 volunteers to register will receive free T-shirts. Contact Zion at 218-879-4647 to get on the volunteer list.

Dave Johnson figures about 500 people attend the annual free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

“I hope the Thanksgiving meal will continue with the DAV. They’re strong, and they’re getting help from groups like the VFW, the Eagles and others,” he said. “Of course, we can always use more helpers. We never turn down help.”