Gabe Stark
The Trenton Telegraph

In a heartwarming display of community spirit and generosity, Coon Creek Baptist Church organized and delivered 900 Thanksgiving meals to families this year, turning a huge undertaking into a reality with the help of over 100 dedicated volunteers, and community support.

Preparation for this massive project began months before Thanksgiving, involving five intensive noodle-making sessions and countless hours spent cleaning, organizing, prepping, practicing recipes, gathering supplies, cooking, baking, and taking orders. Volunteers worked tirelessly to make sure that every component of the meal would be prepared, so that families could enjoy a meal that tastes just like what they grew up eating.

The menu was as impressive as the scale of the operation: 68 turkeys, 74 bags of homemade noodles, 72 pans of homemade dressing, 44 gallons of green beans, 1,500 hot rolls, three cases of mashed potatoes, and 1,000 servings of pumpkin desserts, muffins, pies, and a variety of cookies.

Every dish was assembled on Thanksgiving morning with volunteers choosing to help make meals for others rather than at home with their families. Diana Crawford and a few other volunteers stayed at the church until midnight the night prior to Thanksgiving, before waking up at four in the morning of to start cooking all the turkey, noodles, and stuffing that needed to be ready to go out by nine.

Volunteers showed up throughout the morning to prepare the meal. One group of people stuffed all 900 bags laid out on tables with hot rolls and desserts, while another group filled plates with turkey, green beans, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Noodles were put into cups by yet another group, before other volunteers put all the components together and drivers went out to deliver the meals.

The roots of this ministry date back 30 years, when Donald and Elenora Knapp began making homemade noodles in their home following a Bible study, until one year, a surprise donation of two turkeys was given, starting the church’s Thanksgiving tradition. From that small act of kindness, the tradition has grown from a church ministry into a true community effort, making a difference in the lives of hundreds each year.

Diana Crawford, the wife of Pastor Doug Crawford, has been involved with the program for the last 22 years, but in the last five years has taken over the planning and organizing of the ministry. She spent countless hours making sure that everything would run smoothly this year so that families could receive their meals with no charge.

The program’s motivation runs deep: in a world where many are struggling to make ends meet, the volunteers at Coon Creek Baptist Church hope to show compassion, share the message of Jesus, and remind recipients that they are not alone. For many involved, the best part is meeting new people, seeing families serve together, and witnessing community members step out of their comfort zones to create lasting memories filled with laughter and friendship.

Looking ahead, Crawford hopes for even more helping hands in the week leading up to Thanksgiving, believing that just an hour or two from new volunteers could make a world of difference. The Coon Creek Baptist Church Thanksgiving meal delivery stands as a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when a community comes together to care for its own.