For about 20 years, the Montgomery Lions Club has prepared a free Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings to share with the community.

When the tradition began, the dinner was cooked and served in the Lions Club Hall on South Main Street. But years ago, the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Company offered the Lions Club the use of their large commercial kitchen. The Lions Club members would cook the food in the fire company’s kitchen and then transport in back to their hall. But for the past three years, the dinner has been cooked and served at the fire company social hall.

The club members work hard to plan, prepare, and serve the dinner for their guests.

Preparing a meal of this size is no small feat, and this year the Lions Club roasted fifteen turkeys to serve to their guests. According to Lions Club member Larry Grove, the dinner takes about three weeks to plan. He said, “I enjoyed the planning part of it, running around and getting what we need, and the preparation in the kitchen.”

Elmer Buck, another Lions Club member, said it takes about ten members of the Lions Club to make the dinner happen. Roger McRae, President of the Montgomery Lions Club added that the club is also assisted by volunteers from the community. This year, some of the volunteers included the Moon family, as well as three students from Montgomery Area High School’s Leo Club.

The meal requires so much cooking, that the Club members and volunteers begin cooking on Wednesday to be prepared for Thursday. The dinner is a much-needed service for the community.

Members of the community are invited to eat dinner in the social hall. They also allow their guests to take their meals to go, and they also deliver food to those who are unable to leave their homes.

“A lot of people would not have Thanksgiving Dinner if we did not do this,” said Nancy Secules.

The Lions Club would like to publicly express their thanks and appreciation to the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Company for the use of their kitchen and social hall. “It’s really nice the fire company lets us use the fire hall, because this is way too big for our hall,” commented Buck.

Roger McRae added, “This works so much better. They have a big room, and all of the parking, and it’s handicapped accessible.”

While the meal is a wonderful thing for the community, it’s very obvious that members of the Montgomery Lions Club derive a lot of joy from giving the dinner each year.

Grove commented that the most fulfilling part of the dinner is getting to serve and help others.

McRae said that at one point over the years, he delivered meals to an elderly disabled couple that were so pleased and excited to get their dinner that it made his day. He said it was the most touching experience he had with the Thanksgiving dinner.

“I’ll do it again next year,” Buck said with a smile.

The Lions Club is welcoming new members, and anyone who would like to join the club can talk to any member, or contact Roger McRae at 570-547-1375.