Photos by Marie Mccolm The Monte Vista Elks Lodge cooked up a free Thanksgiving Day dinner on Nov. 25. The local Elks Lodge has provided this community service for three years.

MONTE VISTA — The Monte Vista Elks Lodge hosted its 3rd annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner on Nov. 25.

The dinner was free to everyone in the community. The dinner featured a full-course Thanksgiving Day meal, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and many other sides.

Members of the Elks Lodge served the meal and donations were also being made in a large can that was set out on the table, next to the food.

Exalted Ruler of the Monte Vista Elks Lodge CE Glunz was enthusiastic about the turkey dinner this year.

“We really enjoy doing this, we’ve been doing this about three years now," Glunz said. "We didn’t do it last year due to the COVID, but we are happy about bringing it back this year.”

Glunz said that at the last meal, nearly 125 people attended and that it continues to grow every year. The dinner was being offered as either a sit-down or a takeout.

“We have enough materials to make the meal completely takeout, but I also know that many members of the community enjoy sitting down and eating together and socializing, too,” Glunz said.

Resident Don Santistevan attended the event.

"They do a nice thing here for folks, folks who are alone or for folks who are in need," Santistevan said. "I am enjoying my turkey dinner and talking with a few of my friends here, too.”

One of the coordinators of the Thanksgiving Day meal said that it was designed, for those that needed a place to eat, during the holidays.

The community meal was made possible by donations and grants to the Elks Lodge.