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Banquet of Blessings

This year’s Banquet will be drive-thru/prepare at home on December 24 at Middle School.

Photo by Eugenia Jones
Although volunteers were forced to change this year’s Banquet of Blessings to a “drive through, pick up your meal bag, and prepare your food at home” type of Christmas dinner with limited volunteers due to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, it will still require a lot of hard work and donations to feed so many people.

 

By Eugenia Jones
eugenia@highland.net

The annual McCreary County “Banquet of Blessings” will once again offer a traditional Christmas dinner to residents on Christmas Eve. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s banquet will provide meal bags for preparation at home with drive through/pick-up service only. On December 24 from 10:00 a.m. until about 1:00 p.m. (or until food is gone), volunteers will distribute bags of food to families for preparation at home. The basic meal bag will consist of two pounds sliced, cooked ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, corn, rolls, pie, and cookies. Those attending the Banquet of Blessings will drive through the student drop-off lane at McCreary County Middle School to pick up their food. Volunteers will bring meal bags from the gymnasium to waiting vehicles. Tables and tents will be set up and manned by individuals to help direct traffic. The first two hundred recipients will receive a fruit basket in addition to their meal bag. Volunteers plan to prepare 400 meal bags, with each family receiving one meal bag. (Large families will also receive a supplement food bag to go with the basic meal bag.) In addition, the first one hundred children will receive a gift.
There will also be limited deliveries. The number to call and leave a message for delivery is 310-9466. Leave a message as no one will be answering the phone. Messages will be checked daily with names added to the list for limited delivery.
Financial donations are appreciated. Donations can be made to the McCreary County Banquet of Blessing Facebook fundraiser which deposits donations directly into the Banquet bank account. Checks can be made payable to Banquet of Blessings and mailed to PO Box 1311, Pine Knot, KY 42635.
In 2019, the Banquet of Blessings served 1111 hot meals, and organizers anticipate serving more individuals in 2020. By serving 400 families this year, organizers estimate feeding approximately 1,600 individuals.

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