Preparations are underway in Gettysburg for multiple community Thanksgiving dinners, including one that has grown far beyond its original plan.
Stephanie Auer of Gettysburg said she had been feeding a few local families who were struggling to receive food assistance. Her initial Thanksgiving plan was to host a small dinner for six people with several tables of food.
Auer shared a social media post offering to feed 15 additional people, which quickly gained attention. “When I went to bed and woke up to 150 messages, I had a panic attack,” she said. However, most of the messages were from people offering to help rather than asking for meals.
Within days, Auer’s effort expanded into a volunteer network of about 250 people. Local businesses, including Perkins, the Lincoln Diner, and the Hilton Garden Inn, donated food and space for the dinner.
Santa and Mrs. Claus, Gary and Lana Klingensmith, also plan to attend and visit with guests during the event.
Auer estimates that she and her team of volunteers will serve about 1,000 meals this Thanksgiving.
