The Waterloo Lions Club once again hosted a successful “Share the Feast” dinner this Thanksgiving, offering free meals in the Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic School cafeteria as well as carry-outs and deliveries.  A total of 233 people were fed in all, but it couldn’t have been done without help from the community.

“We had several volunteers from the community who helped that day, not only Lions,” event organizer and longtime Lions Club member Ruth Ann Mueller said.

For example, Mueller said the Tom and Judith Sliment family volunteered and were a big help.

“They said they enjoyed it and their kids would like to help with it next year,” she said.

Brother and sister Joey and Merry Baldwin have also helped with “Share the Feast” for five or six years, Mueller noted.

Others who volunteer their time on Thanksgiving to help with this important community event include Sharon Hirstein and Cy Kolmer.
The meal consists of turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, a roll and pumpkin pie. There were 12 turkeys served this year, which were baked by Jeff Vogt of JV’s Downtown Bar & Grill.

“We start around 8 a.m. and everyone pitches in. Everybody has their certain job they are responsible for and takes care of it,” Mueller said.

In addition to the sit-down diners, the Valmeyer Lions delivered 20 meals to their community, and helpers delivered four meals to Columbia and 42 in Waterloo.

“We had a few less deliveries this year, but had a few more carry-out orders,” Mueller said. “The dining room was full a good portion of the day from people who came to socialize and eat in the cafeteria.”

Mueller wished to thank everyone who helped this year.

“This is an event that cannot be successful without all of the people who took time to help,” she said.