Making Pumpkin Bars

U.S. Air Force Col. Frank Stokes, 148FW Vice Commander, volunteers to help make 4000 pumpkin bars Nov. 25, 2008 for the 19th annual Thanksgiving Buffet held on Thanksgiving in Duluth, Minn. The College of St. Scholastica sponsors a Thanksgiving Buffet for community members each year at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt. Jason Rolfe)

Delivering Thanksgiving to the Community

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Shelly West and Chief Master Sgt. Jeff West, both 148th Fighter Wing members, along with their daughter volunteer to make deliveries of Thanksgiving meals Nov. 27, 2008 to local community members in Duluth, Minn. The College of St. Scholastica sponsors a Thanksgiving Buffet for community members each year at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center along with home deliveries for people that can not make it to the event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Audra Flanagan)

148th Gives Back on Thanksgiving

Published Dec. 2, 2008
By Capt. Audra Flanagan
148FW

Duluth, Minn. -- 148th Supports 19th Annual Thanksgiving Buffet

Almost 100 148th Fighter Wing members and their families gathered at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center on Thanksgiving to help with the 2008 Thanksgiving Buffet.

This is the 4th year the 148th has volunteered as a group to support this event. This year's support included baking 4000 pumpkin bars, decorating the DECC Dining Room, preparing bag lunches for all buffet attendees and delivering meals to local shut-ins.

Sr. Master Sgt. Todd Zinmer and his family delivered 17 meals throughout Superior, Wisconsin. He thought the event was positive for many reasons; he said "his kids were able to see the need for meal delivery and gratitude from the people who received the meals". He said he and his family would do this again.

Chief Master Sgt. Jeff West and his family have delivered meals to community members for four years. He says his favorite part of delivering is "hearing the gratitude of those who receive the meals". He said that the people who receive the meals "are obviously homebound and are so thankful".

The 19th Annual Thanksgiving Buffet held in Duluth fed approximately 3500 community members at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. Another 1000 meals were delivered to community members who could not attend the Duluth, Superior, Cloquet and Two Harbors. The event is sponsored by the College of Saint Scholastica, however would not be possible without the many donors and volunteers.