The ‘gravy lady’ needs a hand: Donation drive underway for Thanksgiving meals in Southcentral Alaska

Organizations throughout Southcentral Alaska are preparing to serve Thanksgiving meals this holiday season.

But first, they're counting on the generosity of others.

Along with donations of food, Bean's Cafe in Anchorage relies on help from about 100 volunteers every Thanksgiving, including Judy "the gravy lady," who's been a longtime holiday helper, said executive director Lisa Sauder.

Bean's chef Aaron Dollison expects to serve 1,000 meals in four hours.

The day starts with breakfast burritos ferried to the Brother Francis Shelter next door, so a corps of staff and volunteers can ready Bean's for the big meal later in the day.

That meal, Dollison says, includes turkey, ham, stuffing, rolls, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green-bean casserole, fruit, pies and cakes.

The stuffing recipe?

"I do it like my mom taught me. I take all the stuff from the turkey. Make plain cornbread, mix it with Stove Top, eggs, spices, bell pepper, onions, celery. Bake it for about an hour," Dollison said.

The full-time chef at Bean's, he's been serving Thanksgiving dinners for five or so years.

His favorite part of the Thanksgiving Day extravaganza is … all of it.

"Seeing that everybody's happy and they're having something good to eat," Dollison said. "Because I want the best. I don't want nothing left. I want it to be like Mom made it."

The nonprofit that serves meals all year and provides a day shelter is requesting a long list of donations ranging from turkey to canned sweet potatoes.

Donations can be dropped off at Bean's Cafe at 1101 E. Third Ave. between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. any day of the week or at Tastee Freez at Jewel Lake and Raspberry roads. Monetary donations or offers to volunteer on Thanksgiving can also be made online or by calling 907-433-8601. For questions about food donations, call 907-297-5606.

Other organizations are also offering meals for the holiday.

Wasilla's Frontline Mission puts on a free sit-down community dinner on Thanksgiving at the Menard Center. People interested in volunteering can sign up at the mission's website. There will be an orientation on Friday.

Food Bank of Alaska holds events in Anchorage and Mat-Su to distribute Thanksgiving meals to an estimated 10,000 families. The Valley Thanksgiving Blessing takes place at five sites from Palmer to Talkeetna on Nov. 17. The Anchorage Thanksgiving Blessing for six locations is Nov. 19.

Families in need are directed to a distribution site according to their ZIP code and are asked to bring proof of address with them, according to a Food Bank press release. People can find out which location they should visit by calling 211 or visiting the organization's website.

The event served more than 9,600 families last year.