By GARY DEMUTH, Salina Journal

Daniel Jackson has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

If not for the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by Applebee's Neighborhood Bar and Grill, 2875 N. Ninth, Jackson might not have eaten at all.

"If I didn't come here, I'd probably go hungry today," said Jackson, as he sat at the bar at Applebee's eating a plateful of turkey, dressing, corn, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes.

Jackson said he was homeless and has been living in his Suburban for the past three years.

A Vietnam veteran subsisting on disability checks, Jackson now is trying to save enough money to repair his vehicle, which he said operates only in low gear and reverse.

Even though he's had a hard life, Jackson said he feels grateful every day to be alive.

"Everyday I wake up, I'm thankful that the good Lord is giving me another day to serve him," Jackson said.

Being able to serve those in need, like Jackson, is a big reason why Applebee's assistant manager Benny Lopez has spent the last three Thanksgivings serving free meals to the community, all of it on his own time.

"Times have been tough for some people, and I feel fortunate to be on this side," said Lopez, who has worked for Applebee's 12 years. "I have a lot to be thankful for, so I couldn't ask for much more. When you can come in here and do something great for the community, especially this time of year, then it's really satisfying."

This year marks the 12th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, co-sponsored by Applebee's, the Salvation Army, the Salina Country Club and G.L. Huyett, of Minneapolis, a company that manufactures and distributes fasteners.

More than 80 community members of all ages volunteered to serve traditional Thanksgiving meals from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday. Doors actually were opened at 11:30 a.m. after a long line began to form outside shortly before 11 a.m.

This year, about 880 people were served at the restaurant and another 156 meals were delivered to home-bound citizens who ordered in advance, said Roxanne Matous, office manager and case worker with the Salvation Army.

Last year, 824 meals were served at the restaurant and another 100 meals were delivered.

Meals were served to all who showed up to eat, Matous said. It didn't matter if they were homeless, alone for Thanksgiving or just didn't want to cook a big meal.

"No matter how many people show up each year, we always seem to have enough," she said.

About 60 turkeys were cooked during a three-week period at the Salvation Army Community Center, 1137 N. Santa Fe, by Salvation Army kitchen manager Kathy Fears, who then froze the cooked turkeys until they were ready to serve.

The Salina Country Club was responsible for preparing the dressing and gravy, Matous said, and G.L. Huyett provided the turkeys, yams and multiple pumpkin, cherry and apple pies.

"A lot of work goes on behind the scenes, but it's worth it to see the looks on people's faces when we serve them," she said. "It's such a great atmosphere and very fulfilling. It's not just about the food, it's the fellowship, too."

Debbie Andrews has been volunteer coordinator for the Thanksgiving dinner for the past nine years. She previously worked for G.L. Huyett as operations manager but has since been laid-off by the company. That didn't stop Andrews from volunteering this year, however.

"I do this for me and my daughter," said Andrews, who now works at Bennington State Bank and as a Salina real estate agent. "She's a freshman in college and has been volunteering since she was nine. It's unfortunate I was laid off, but I feel like I'm very fortunate in life and I still want to give back."

Andrews' daughter, Rhea, said volunteering at Applebee's on Thanksgiving has become a tradition for her mother and herself.

"It's nice because it puts things in perspective," Rhea said. "It's been hard for my mom. She's a single mother and has worked three jobs to support us, but even so, we feel like giving back to others."

Don Beran, a volunteer driver for five years, echoed Rhea's sentiments.

"Delivering meals is something good to do to help people who can't come out and eat," he said. "Some people are in their 90s, and some can't even walk to the door. They thank us, and they appreciate us doing this."

Salina seniors Ron and Rosalie Berry and Duane and Neva Naegele didn't have family in town to cook for this Thanksgiving, so they decided to enjoy a meal out.

"All our kids are out of town, and Duane and Neva's kids are out of town, too," Ron Berry said. "So we came here to eat some delicious food."

"I didn't feel like cooking today," Neva Naegele said. "We're going to have a big Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, so I'm taking it easy today."

Salinans Robert and Jennifer Coble came to Applebee's for the first time this year, accompanied by their 3-month-old daughter Kelsey. Jennifer Coble said if she and her husband didn't come to this meal, they might not have had a Thanksgiving, at all.

"We didn't have the money to make dinner at home," she said. "If not for this, we would have just sat home."

"It sure beats macaroni and cheese," Robert Coble said. "The economy is rough now, so every little bit helps."

nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.

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