Thanksgiving Around Town

Several local organizations are putting in the extra effort to make sure everyone in Kodiak has a place to spend Thanksgiving.

The Coast Guard Spouses’ Association of Kodiak hosted a dinner last week for Coast Guardsmen without family in town. They’ve donated the bounty of leftovers from that meal to the Brother Francis Shelter. Shelter director Monty Hawver says providing a meal on Thanksgiving is especially important.

— (Thanks 1 :12 "It let’s the homeless know … everybody is welcome to come.")

Hawver says the shelter usually serves anywhere from 20 to 40 people. The dinner will start at 8:30 PM at the shelter on Thorsheim.

The American Legion will be hosting its annual dinner. The meal is open to everyone and starts at 3 PM. Kodiak. Kodiak Senior Center Executive Director Pat Branson says that the American Legion also provides meals for the senior center to deliver on Thanksgiving. She and her husband will spend the day delivering the meals.

— (Thanks 2 :09 "It’s part of our Thanksgiving day … it works out pretty well.")

The food bank received some last minute donations this morning. Executive Director Alexander Psurikov says St. Paul Lutheran Church, the Coast Guard Chaplain and the local Girl Scouts chapter all came through to make sure the food bank had enough for all their clients.

— (Thanks 3 :09 "It saved the day … not enough vegetables and fruits as usual.")

Psurikov says donations have been slow the last few months. The food bank will be open tomorrow from noon until four for pick ups or donations.

The Kodiak Women’s Resource and Crisis Center will have a quiet, private dinner for those staying at the shelter. Communications Coordinator Maryann Joyce says that the shelter is already looking forward to Christmas. KWRCC is collaborating with the Kodiak Humane Society and the Salvation Army for their gift giving tree at Wal-Mart, which went up last week.