FARMINGTON — The squash is in storage, other foods are being gathered and volunteers are signing up to help at the free annual dinner held Thanksgiving Day in the cafeteria of Mt. Blue High School.

The only difference this year from the past 10 years is a behind-the-scenes change. The baton of organizational leadership has passed from meal starters Rufus and Charlene Cox of New Sharon to Gerry Gilman and Nancy Weeks of Mercer.

“Rufus and Charlene started a really good project. My goal is to keep it the same as they originally started and keep it going,” Gilman said.

The meal, sponsored by the Augusta Valley Scottish Rite Masons, started after Rufus and Charlene volunteered at a similar meal in Gardiner for three years.

“Rufus then said, ‘We have a need in the Farmington area, too. Let’s you and I start something,’” Charlene Cox said. “The first meal fed 75 people but it’s now over 400.”

The couple will still be involved in the meal. “It’s something we’ve always enjoyed doing,” she said. “We wanted to do something for the community.

“We’re just passing it along to Gerry and Nancy. They’re capable and will do a wonderful job. We’ll be there to lend a hand or to answer questions but they’ll organize it,” she said.

Gilman helped with organizing last year and Weeks worked on the meal. They are not strangers to such efforts.

Gilman and Weeks recounted meals and projects they’ve done to give back to the community. He is an active member of the Elks, Masons, Scottish Rites, York Rites, Eastern Star and Marine Corps League.

Weeks is now lining up volunteers and donations for the meal, making calls from lists from last year.

“One driver responded, ‘If I’m not in the obits, I’ll be there,'” she said.

She’s talked with people on the list who enjoy coming to the meal because they are alone on the holiday. Some return every year to help or to just dine with others.

“Everybody is welcome. It doesn’t matter if you’re a millionaire or a pauper. You can work and eat or just sit down and eat,” Cox said. 

The meal will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 22, in the new cafeteria at Mt. Blue High School. 

The traditional Thanksgiving meal starts after about 300 meals are packaged and sent out all over the county. “If someone calls and there’s a need, we’ll find someone to deliver,” Cox said.

Meals need to be ordered by Nov. 21 by calling 649-5449 or 491-4287. Volunteers may sign up or make donations by calling these numbers as well.

Volunteers are also needed to cook turkeys, bake pies — about 50 are needed — or donate other items. Some people buy the turkey and cook it, others just cook, with the turkey, pan and instructions for cooking provided, Gilman said. Last year 22, 20-pound turkeys were prepared.

Providing the meal is fun and satisfying, but both couples agreed it’s the number of volunteers that is most touching.

“The most rewarding thing is to see the community come out as a diverse group of people who join in for one cause,” Cox said.

Weeks has discovered several volunteers are former high school students. Some have gone on to college but will be home and want to help again, she said.

While Gilman feels blessed to have the time and ability to do this and Weeks finds it rewarding to get involved and help people, they both admitted they sometimes ponder whether they can make this successful. 

That’s overshadowed by their biggest joy from doing this . . . the people, especially seniors, who are looking forward to it, they said.

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