Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Mark Andersen is concerned that 16 turkeys won't be sufficient to feed his guests on Thanksgiving Day.

You might be counting your drumsticks too, if you were expecting to serve 400 people. Andersen also is looking for volunteers to cook enough side dishes - green beans, yams, salads and desserts - for 400.

Andersen is executive director of Routt County United Way. Together with Wells Fargo Bank and a host of volunteers, his organization will host the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Steamboat Springs Community Center.

The meal and entertainment are free of charge, and everyone is welcome. And it wouldn't be a bad thing if a couple more turkeys showed up.

"We have 16 turkeys, and we're shooting for 18," Andersen said. "If you decide to bring a turkey, it's better to be late than to take the turkey out of the oven early."

It never fails, Andersen said. Steamboat residents always volunteer enough food for the traditional dinner, but it never comes together until the last minute.

The meal is typically well-attended by people from all walks of life.

"The one thing this is, it's a community dinner," Andersen said. "We host the elderly, college kids and just people who don't want to be alone on Thanksgiving. That's the wonderful thing - it's a place to be with people and to be a community."

Alpine Taxi is offering free rides to and from the dinner for the elderly and the disabled living in the city limits.

Young musicians will perform during the meal and the Girl Scouts are making centerpieces.

Volunteers will be available at the Community Center from 5 to 7 p.m. today to receive donated side dishes. However, the preferred time for dropping off your green bean casserole and ambrosia salad is between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday. You're even invited to stay for dinner.

"We have 20 dozen rolls, and the Lions Club gave us a $500 gift card to the grocery store, so rolls are pretty well covered," Andersen said. "But you can never have enough desserts."