Brattleboro and Montpelier may be more than 100 miles apart, but they’ve shared the tradition of presenting free public Thanksgiving dinners for 48 years.
Thanks to new hosts taking over for retiring ones, that record is set to reach 49.
The two communities are scheduled to join Burlington, Rutland and St. Johnsbury in giving away holiday meals — albeit with a few changes sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Brattleboro, the town’s nearly half-century event is moving to Wednesday at Brattleboro Union High School to accommodate volunteer schedules and space needed for physical distancing.
“When I heard the prior organizers had burned out and no one was planning anything this year, a light bulb went off,” said Jaci Reynolds, a local restaurateur who has helped with similar meals in Greater Boston. “I couldn’t live with that, knowing I had experience doing this.”
The Brattleboro meal will feature some 60 volunteers and suppliers, including the Vermont Foodbank and local Foodworks, offering turkey and vegan and gluten-free options. Wednesday seatings at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. will be limited to 150 online reservations and 50 walk-ins. More information about takeout and delivery options is available on the event’s Facebook page.
In Montpelier, longtime meal organizers at the Washington County Youth Service Bureau are passing the turkey baster to the National Life Group and its cafeteria provider, Sodexo, which will offer pickup and delivery options Wednesday.
“The dinner outgrew our agency’s capacity,” Kreig Pinkham, executive director of the youth service bureau, said of an effort that serves more than 800 people annually. “We know this event is in capable hands with organizations that are as caring and committed to the community as we are.”
Montpelier is advertising pickup meals Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside Bethany Church at 115 Main St. and the National Life main entrance at 1 National Life Drive. Reservations and deliveries are available by calling 802-229-7300.
In Burlington, Sweetwaters restaurant has recruited 100 volunteers to serve takeout meals at the city’s 31st annual event Thursday.
“It’s unfortunate people can’t come in, but we want to keep everyone safe,” Sweetwaters owner and operator David Melincoff said of an effort that gave away 1,700 meals last year.
The Burlington event at 120 Church St. will offer free used coats Thursday starting at 8:30 a.m., followed by meals from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. More information is available by calling 802-864-9800.
In Rutland, the Loyal Order of Moose will continue its half-century Thanksgiving dinner tradition with an in-person gathering Thursday.
“I think the need is greater than ever before, so we’re prepared for 500 meals this year,” lodge member Craig Halley said of an event that served 400 takeout dinners last year.
The Rutland event is set for Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. at the 78 Center St. lodge, with deliveries available by calling 802-775-0982 by Wednesday.
In St. Johnsbury, local churches are taking over Kingdom Community Services’ past efforts to provide a Thanksgiving Day meal.
“The faith communities realized no one was doing anything, so they stepped up,” volunteer Barbara Connelly said.
The St. Johnsbury event on Thursday at Main Street’s South Church Hall requires a reservation for takeout, delivery or seatings at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. More information is available at 802-748-2603.
Anti-hunger advocates are encouraging people in other parts of the state to contact their local food shelves, community action agencies or 211 to learn about other holiday meal options.