“I’ve always wanted to do this type of thing, it’s so good and generous.” says Reath Ellefson. As a former cancer patient, for four years she has been cooking the “Commu­nity Thanksgiving Dinner”, for over 100 people.

Last year the Peninsula Daily News interviewed Ellef­son and she told them that this meal is her medicine, “I’m go­ing through treatment again, but this is good medicine right here.”

The Queen of Angels Church has no part in sponsoring this dinner; Ellefson sets up the en­tire dinner along with anyone willing to help.

Although most people think that she would want as much food from people as possible, the only things she accepts, as far as donations from people in the commu­nity, is money, or new or gently used coats, hats, and scarves. This year Reath asked for 16 turkeys from anyone who is willing to donate them. She received 17. Ellefson only takes food dona­tions (besides turkeys) from big stores such as Costco, who are willing to donate various types of Thanksgiving foods.

As of November 17, 2011 Reath reached her goal of $4,000 to help pay for the dinner.

Growing up, she knew what is was like to not have a Christmas, and she doesn’t want other people or families to have to go through the same thing. Ellefson came up with the idea to combine Thanksgiv­ing and Christmas in a way; “I buy enough stuff all year long.” Ellefson recalls.

Gifts are neatly set up on a table that you cannot miss as soon as you walk in. When someone first walks in they write their name on a slip of paper and put it in a bowl. All throughout the dinner, names are drawn from the bowl and people walk up and select the present of their choice. “There’s always enough gifts for everyone, no one goes home empty handed.” Reath as­sures.

Along with taking home a gift, anyone who wants to take home leftovers or extra food to get through the next day, is more than welcome to. “If someone wants to take food with them, we provide a box and dish it up for them so it’s ready when they get home.”

Last year, Reath Ellefson served over 350 people, “Every year it gets bigger and bigger, and last year was definitely the biggest dinner.”

The Thanksgiving dinner was from 12:00 – 3:30 p.m. on Thurs­day, November 24, Thanksgiv­ing Day. It was free and open to anyone who needed a place to go on Thanksgiving.

Even though the dinner didn’t start until 12:00, last year people showed up a quarter after 11:00 (11:15) and the food, along with the presents and the tables, were ready. If a family needed to arrive early, they were not sent home, their Thanksgiving simply just start­ed a little earlier than everyone else’s.

Everyone who helps set up the dinner and helps prepare for it, are all volunteers. There is no age limit for the volun­teers, though she cannot allow children to serve food.

Ellefson describes this dinner as her “way of giving back” to the community. Anyone who has helped her through her can­cer, this dinner is for you.