Hanscom to host Thanksgiving dinner

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Members of the Hanscom community are invited to attend a Thanksgiving dinner at the chapel annex Nov. 23 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The event is free and open to all military and civilian personnel who are away from family this Thanksgiving.

“Taking care of people is what we do in the military,” said Master Sgt. Ryan Dillingham, the event’s organizer. “If you are away from home this year, and don’t have anywhere else to go, I encourage you to come to the chapel on Thanksgiving and have dinner with your Air Force family.”

In addition to asking for RSVPs from those interested in eating a meal, Dillingham is seeking traditional Thanksgiving side dishes as well as volunteers to setup, serve meals and to clean up following the event.

Anyone interested in providing food may sign up via a common access card-enabled SharePoint site on the Hanscom network. For those without access, Dillingham will accept an email at ryan.dillingham@us.af.mil.

Anyone interested in providing food may do so as early as Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 12:30 p.m. at the chapel annex.

“Ideally while people are cooking their own Thanksgiving meals, they cook a little extra and bring it to the chapel on Thanksgiving Day,” said Dillingham. “But we will have volunteers available to accept food donations two days earlier.”

Dillingham added that while the event is for anyone unable to be with family this Thanksgiving, all are welcome to attend, including families.

“For anyone on base that is required to work a shift on Thanksgiving, such as our Defenders, firefighters and Airmen assigned to the Command Post, please come by and enjoy a hot meal during your lunch break,” said Dillingham.

Anyone wishing to eat at the community dinner may do so by sending an RSVP to ryan.dillingham@us.af.mil or to Senior Airman Marcel Parker at marcel.parker.1@us.af.mil prior to Nov. 17.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help serve meals or help with set up and clean up, is asked to contact Dillingham or Parker.