Thanksgiving meal serves Ewen community

EWEN - An estimated 65 people of all ages were fed at the second annual Southern Ontonagon County Thanksgiving dinner at the Cloverland Senior Center in Ewen early Thursday afternoon.

The meal was provided by the Pelkola family, including Melanie and her husband, Ken, along with numerous volunteers.

Before organizing this dinner in Ewen, the Pelkola family volunteered at the community Thanksgiving dinners in Bergland for four years.

Last year, the dinner in Ewen served around 36 people, along with 12 home deliveries.

Melanie Pelkola said the event provides more than a Thanksgiving meal for the community members who attend and those who prepare the feast. "The people coming here don't have family close by or anyone else around. It feels really good to do it," she said.

One of the servers, Sue Ann Oinas, volunteered to serve the meal, do dishes and make deliveries on her way home. This was her first time serving at a community dinner. "My husband and I wanted to serve our community so we called Melanie and asked to help."

The dinner included several dishes, including turkey, pumpkin pie, stuffing, mashed potatoes and broccoli-cauliflower salad.

A craft table was set up for children.

A local pastor led the diners in grace before dinner was served. After dinner, four door prizes were awarded.