Mike Buff

It’s Thanksgiving Day and at 11 a.m. serving begins at the St. Raphael’s Church Hall in Lehigh and everyone is invited to come. The dinner is free for everyone, says Mike Buff of the Rotary Club of Lehigh Acres which has prepared the feast.

That wonderful aroma of turkeys roasting in the oven permeated the dining room at St. Raphael’s church Wednesday morning. Nearly 30 turkeys were being cooked for today’s dinner.

“Thursday is Thanksgiving Day and there is no reason in Lehigh for anyone not to sit down with a piled up plate of turkey and all the trimmings because the Lehigh Rotary Club is cooking enough food to feed more than 500 people,” said Buff, who is spearheading the dinner.

“We just want to make sure the news is out that our community Thanksgiving Dinner is for everyone and there is no cost,” Buff said.

Throughout Wednesday, a Rotarian was in and out of the kitchens at St. Raphael’s Church Hall to make sure the birds were cooking evenly.

When the cooking was over, the cooks removed the turkeys from the ovens and sliced them.

“We want everyone to feel welcome and come. It is our 14th year that we have been cooking turkeys and the crowds have gotten larger every year. And this year, we are even planning for a larger crowd than ever before.

“Times are hard for everyone in the community and we know that. That’s why we are preparing more food in anticipation of more people. And we can’t stress enough how much we want people to turn out and enjoy their Thanksgiving Dinner,” Buff said.

After the turkey, dressing and all the trimmings, volunteer teens will get you your favorite dessert, whether it be a slice of piece of cake.

If you want to volunteer, just show up.

“We can always use people on the serving line. Many come back every year. The more volunteers we have, the less time they have to serve on the line. We want them to enjoy a great meal, too,” Buff said.

If you want to volunteer in anyway, from serving to cleaning up afterwards and even helping to wash dishes, just show up. Buff said all you have to do is find him and he will put you to work.

“You’ll enjoy it. All our volunteers say it is a special treat to serve others on this very important day,” Buff said.

“The more people who show up for our free dinner, the merrier it will be. You get to meet new friends, see old friends and just relax and enjoy the day,” Buff said.

Dining begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. if the food holds out. Buff believes they will have enough to feed all who come.