Centerton volunteers practice their turkey carving skills ahead of community thanksgiving dinner

CENTRETON, Ark. – Volunteers in Centerton rolled up their sleeves and perfected a very important holiday skill the night before Thanksgiving.

In preparation for the annual Centerton Thanksgiving Community Dinner, community members came out to prepare turkey and ham that will be served to those in need of dinner.

“It’s really a wonderful community. And, you know, we love to hold those community events, you know, there’s a small town feel here, and, you know, I think we’re one of the few cities that does that,” Mayor Bill Edwards said.

In past years, Meyer said they served about 120 people and distributed food to about 30 people. This year, he said he thinks he’ll see more need.

“I know a lot of people who are struggling right now with, you know, the economy and, you know, getting back to work and doing different things,” Edwards said. “We have a lot of people coming and going here. In this whole area, there’s about 36 people every day, and a lot of them don’t have any friends or family. Some are single here. Some are seniors.”

While everyone had their own techniques, the volunteers said the goal was simply to remove as much meat as possible from the bone.

“It’s just like getting as much meat as possible to serve and serve, because you never know how many people are going to come,” said Wendy Henson, Centerton City Council member and volunteer. “That’s what I’m about. It’s about finding every nook and cranny to make sure families have enough good food to eat.”

For many people, carving night is about much more than preparing the meal.

Volunteer Craig Gavin said, “It shows the spirit of the town. To see so many people coming out and volunteering. It’s good for the heart.”

Residents can also request delivery if they live within city limits

“Anyone here in Centerton who doesn’t have a way to get here, or is at home, sick, or something, we would be happy to provide a meal,” Edwards said.

Organizers hope the annual dinner not only fills stomachs but also brings people together.

“I just want them to feel full and have great food, and hopefully they’ll come here, make some new friends and have a good feeling about our community,” Edwards said.

The Centerton Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Centerton Community Room, located at 290 North Main Street.