Thirty-seven years ago, when our island’s population was considerably smaller than it is currently, an islander named John Wampler decided that it was important for the community to gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving. After a few years, several of matrons in attendance asked to move the date of this community Thanksgiving from Thursday to the Sunday prior to the national Thanksgiving holiday, to maximize the time spent with both immediate family and the community family that we enjoy. Wise man that he was, John quickly agreed, and from that point forward, the Sunday before Thanksgiving has been the day that all on our island are invited to come together for a fantastic afternoon of feasting, fellowship, and giving thanks.
For those unfamiliar with how the Community Thanksgiving works, donations are solicited throughout the year to help cover the cost of purchasing the meats, drinks and paper products that will be used for the event, and community members are asked to bring their favorite Thanksgiving side dish or dessert for the buffet line. There will be a dedicated core of volunteers led by the crew from J&J Garage who will do most of the meat cooking, but others will help by picking up one of the turkeys or hams and returning them cooked and ready to eat on Sunday. Others will be volunteering by helping to transport and set up tables, chairs, and tents, while others will help with the serving and cleanup. It is a significant undertaking that will feed well over 200 people, but while the food will be fantastic, this isn’t all about the feast. What this event truly represents is an opportunity to experience the strength and uniqueness of our island community.
Attendees come from all corners of the island to enjoy this event, which means that when folks are standing in line or seated at a table with their food, they are striking up conversations with people they share very little in common with other than a love for this community. That one point – that we are all thankful for being able to live here – is enough to establish relationships with others that can carry us through difficult times, such as responding to tropical storms or hurricanes that impact our island. Therefore, even as the Community Thanksgiving represents a phenomenal opportunity to celebrate all that we have to be thankful for, it also creates a more resilient populace that recognizes the inherent value of every individual member of our island community.
So, if you will be on Daufuskie this Sunday, come down to D’Fuskie’s at 1:00 pm and be a part of the celebration. Bring your favorite dish if you can, but if you can’t, make sure to bring yourself, because you are the most important part of the celebration. All are welcome!
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron