A Thankful Community

by Amy Kolb Noyes

MORRISTOWN - Thanksgiving, in Lamoille County, is a time when neighbors
reach out to neighbors. Beginning with the annual "Chris' Challenge"
turkey drive, and extending through turkey day itself, this year's
charitable donations and events have been unsurpassed.
WLVB-FM's annual "Chris' Challenge" turkey drive brought in a record 450
turkeys this year. The on-air turkey drive was conducted from October 6
through November 12. The drive is named in memory of the late Chris
Potter, who initiated the benefit in the weeks leading up to
Thanksgiving 2000.
The challenge is now co-chaired by WLVB morning host Roland Lajoie and
Rep. Warren Miller. They wished to thank "the entire community for their
overwhelming support of an event that supports our neighbors in need
during the holiday season, and shows the true spirit of the residents in
the Lamoille Valley."
The turkeys collected throughout the drive were donated to food shelves
in Morrisville, Johnson, Hardwick, Woodbury-Calais and Waterbury.
Turkeys were also donated to St. Vincent DePaul Society in Lamoille
County, Clarina Howard Nichols Center, Craftsbury's Church on the
Common, Lamoille Valley Grace Brethren Church, Hyde Park Elementary
School and Morrisville's Puffer United Methodist Church.
The turkeys donated to Puffer provided the main dish for its third
annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Pastor Kirk Thompson said more
than 60 people turned out for the free feast. They were served by more
than a dozen volunteers from the church and the community at large.
Pastor Thompson extended a big thank you to all the people who donated
food and time to help make the dinner such a success. Puffer's
Thanksgiving meal also included transportation for some house-bound
community members.
Meanwhile, Copley Hospital served up a free Thanksgiving meal to staff
and patients (whose dietary constrictions allowed for such a meal) who
had to spend the holiday in the hospital. Hospital spokesperson Peter
Wright said Copley serves the free Thanksgiving meal each year "to
soften the blow for people who have to be in the hospital on Thanksgiving."