Durango’s popular Thanksgiving tradition, the community meal, keeps on satisfying

For more than 1,000 Durangoans, the Thanksgiving Day meal isn’t a solitary family affair, but a tradition shared with the community.

At least 1,200 gathered at the La Plata County Fairgrounds on Thursday for the 30th annual Durango Community Thanksgiving Dinner, coordinated for the past three years by Tonya Wales.

Wales said volunteers carved up 46 turkeys for this year’s ritual, which attracts families and individuals for a gamut of reasons, from the social aspect to wanting to be spared the stress of a holiday function.

“We’re having a big family gathering at Christmas, so we thought we’d save all the stress and energy for then and take it easy on Thanksgiving,” said Anna Whalen, who came with her husband, Tom, and baby, J.T.

“We have no family coming in this year, so we thought, why just cook for the two of us?” said Julie Lehman, a first-time attendee with her husband, Lynn.

A line – which many noted, as attendance has grown over the years, is where you make friends – curled around the room as volunteers doled out turkey, stuffing, gravy, rolls and vegetables.

And at least 120 pies and cakes, baked by community members, spread across several tables, which notably attracted more women than men.

“I don’t think that’s by accident,” said volunteer Melissa Ordonez, who was on whipped cream duty.

She added, “This community has given so much to me, I’d be remiss not to give back and volunteer.”

Preparing the meal is a joint effort among local churches and other volunteers, some arriving at the fairgrounds at 6 a.m. to start setting up.

“This place was packed as soon as we started serving at 11:30 a.m.,” said volunteer Tommy Biessenberger. “It’s just grown and grown.”

Some newcomers, in Durango to visit family, were among the 48.7 million Americans AAA estimated would travel 50 miles or more this year to reach their Thanksgiving Day destinations.

Others were longtime attendees, some of whom admitted they come each year to avoid the perils of last-minute dashes to grocers, the pressures of planning and cooking the meal and the tension of familial congregations.

“This is a great, big family gathering, and this is what we’ve lost in America,” said a man who calls himself “Dr. Jay.” He said he and others in the homeless community have attended for about 20 years. “For people like me who don’t have family, you can find one here.”

jpace@durangoherald.com