SUNBURY, Pa. — When Rhonda Fisher started her annual free Thanksgiving dinner in Sunbury 25 years ago, she did not expect it to grow as much as it has.
"I just feel so blessed and grateful that I am able to do this for the community, but I have to say without my volunteers, my angels, this would have been impossible," Fisher said.
For Fisher, the week before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest of the year. She and her volunteers are preparing for the Thanksgiving Day dinner at Zion Lutheran Church in Sunbury, where they expect to serve more than 700 meals.
Fisher says donations are down this year. The group has enough turkeys but could use some other items.
"Cans of green beans, 40-ounce cans of yams, things like milk, butter, things like that. We go through eight-plus gallons of milk for the potatoes and stuff," Fisher said.
The group will deliver meals to the high-rises in Sunbury and, if necessary, to people who can't attend the dinner.
"If you're homebound, we would love, we would be blessed to serve you. But the whole point of this Thanksgiving when I started it is community fellowship," Fisher said.
In addition to the food, there will be live music and bingo. Everyone is invited.
"Come on down, come have coffee with your people and mingle. That's what it's about to bring this community together," Fisher said.
Coffee and doughnuts will be available starting at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving dinner starts at noon at Zion Lutheran Church in Sunbury.