Glenshaw Valley Presbyterian Church opens its doors to offer Thanksgiving feast for community
Members of Glenshaw Valley Presbyterian Church want to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy a traditional holiday meal, so they're inviting the community to their church on Thanksgiving Day.
For more than two decades, the members of the Shaler Township church have opened their doors for the Deacon's Annual Thanksgiving Dinner to serve a feast of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casseroles and countless desserts.
“We don't want anyone to be without a nice dinner or nice atmosphere,” said Shaler resident Mabe Sasso, a deacon at the church.
Volunteers from the 130-member church sign up to volunteer to cook each of the menu items, which include six 10- to 12-pound turkeys; decorate the fellowship hall the night before; and spend the holiday at the church setting up, serving meals and cleaning.
“Some church members who come at 9 a.m., stay to 3 (p.m.) to help clean up, then they go home and cook dinner for their family,” said Cathy Sagi, chairman of the deacons.
“It's a lot of work but it's a blast, and it's worth it to see all of the people. It's wonderful to know we made a day special for them.”
Last year, about 80 people shared the holiday meal with the church members.
Sagi said visitors include people who can't afford to purchase special holiday food or have their ovens on for extended hours to cook a large dinner, as well as people who don't have family in the area, families in which one spouse works on the holiday or couples who don't want to cook a large dinner for two people.
“It's not a place where you're going to come in and feel out of place,” Sagi said of the atmosphere. “Everyone who walks in that door, our goal is to make them feel they are in a family environment.”
Each year, Sasso, a widow, prepares a dish to donate to the church's meal and then enjoys her Thanksgiving dinner with her church family.
“I just go down (to the church) with all my friends and we have a ball,” she said.
This year, all of the leftover food from the church's Thanksgiving dinner will be packaged and delivered to people who were unable to travel to the church.
The annual Thanksgiving dinner has become a ministry of the church and one the church members are happy to provide to the community. Sagi said while donations would be graciously accepted, the dinner is free.
“Nothing is expected in return,” Sagi said.
Bethany Hofstetter is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-772-6364 or bhofstetter@tribweb.com.
