MHAB anticipates over 2,000 for their community Thanksgiving dinner

PLATTSBURGH | Planning the annual Thanksgiving dinner at MHAB's All Ways to Recovery Center begins weeks in advance. This year, coordinators and cooks expect they will serve over 2,000 meals on Thanksgiving Day. Project founders Michael Carpenter, MHAB president, and Youth Advocate Program (YAP) Director Denis King spoke with The Sun about preparations for 2026. They're expecting immense interest for Thanksgiving dinner. "This will be our 8th annual feed-the-community Thanksgiving," Carpenter said. "We've grown from a 87 meals in 2019 to over 2,000 last year. We expect it will be in the 2,000 range again this year." Options for dining include a buffet sit-down Thanksgiving, pick-up, or delivery. Delivery has become an increasingly big part of the day's provision. "A little over 900 dinners were delivered last year," King said. "Sometimes we send drivers out with a few extra meals if they are going to a place like a hotel." MHAB's shared Thanksgiving dinner started as a way to engage residents in a social setting at their All Ways to Recovery community center on Dormitory Drive. Expansion began as residents looked to share with others who may be alone or unable to enjoy the holiday dinner. "We had people call and ask if it was okay for them to come and have dinner," Carpenter said. "Over the years, it's really become a Thanksgiving for everybody. "The MHAB community recognized there are many residents with no family or no family nearby and welcomed people to come and volunteer and be a part of it." It's also great for MHAB, he said. "It gives people a chance to see what MHAB does. We want people to come to be part of this." This year's holiday is especially poignant for King. He is former director of recovery services at the Champlain Valley Family Center and put the project in motion eight years ago. Since day one, he has coordinated, cooked and delivered the Thanksgiving dinner. "I lost my wife, Amy, in June. I know what it's like to be alone," King said. "We don't want anybody out there to feel alone. Come and have a meal." DINING, TAKE-OUT, DELIVERY Thanksgiving is served in the dining area at MHAB in several sittings with seating for 120. Dinner deliveries are scheduled in advance as much as possible to help coordinate volunteer drivers. Take-out is an option, as long as people register to help with planning ahead. The entire meal -- preparation, cooking, serving and delivery -- is supported by donation and a volunteer force. "We have way over 150 volunteers, and sometimes people come and there isn't anything left to do," Carpenter said. "So we created a way for volunteers to sign up and for us to coordinate more efficiently. We've set up a QR code that people can scan to sign up." There is an online volunteer sign-up sheet as well: mhab.org/volunteer To join MHAB for Thanksgiving -- dine-in, take-out or delivery -- guests can make reservations by calling 518-227-0285. There is also a QR code to scan or online registration for dinner, CONNECTION LEADS TO COMMUNITY MHAB and Friends are seeking financial donations now to support food purchases. Giving is coordinated through the United Way of the Adirondack Region. Monetary donations can be sent or dropped off at United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc., 45 Tom Miller Road with MHAB indicated as the recipient. Or call United Way ADK: 518-563-0028 A charitable gift, donations are tax deductible. Putting on his chef's hat and apron, King said that if a family, group, club or local business would like to donate a turkey, it can be dropped off at 14 Dormitory Way. He will start roasting over 100 turkeys in the days leading up to November 26. The opposite of social ills is connection, and that connection leads to community, Carpenter said of purpose behind their holiday tradition. "We seem to fare better when we have people working together." MHAB has a crew ready to help King begin meal preparation in the All Ways' commercial kitchen. "We start the Saturday before Thanksgiving," King said, "and we'll cook turkeys and turkeys and turkeys. Last year, we roasted 106 turkeys. We can do eight at a time in the big ovens. And then we'll start with the mashed potatoes." "We give Denis the entire kitchen for the whole week ahead," Carpenter added. "It is great that we fed over 2,000 people last year. It's also sad to know that we have over 2,000 people who find themselves short or alone for a holiday meal. "We have a lot of food insecurity and people struggling to get by in this region. MHAB's Thanksgiving delivery option really increases the number of people we can reach," Carpenter said. "Transportation is a real issue in this county. Many people don't have vehicles, that's a big part of it." "We know we are still missing a ton of people on the outskirts of Plattsburgh," King said. The MHAB and Friends Thanksgiving dinner conjoins support from area service agencies. Along with United Way of the Adirondack Region, support comes from the Youth Advocate Program (YAP), Behavioral Health Services North (BHSN), NAMI Champlain Valley, and the Champlain Valley Family Center. Thanksgiving donors can provide financial support even on the day of the dinner, Nov. 26. Through United Way ADK, funds can go toward next year's event. For assistance in signing up or with questions about MHAB Thanksgiving, contact Carrie or Charlie by phone: 518-324-5135.

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MHAB anticipates over 2,000 for their community Thanksgiving dinner

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