Community News

     Harvest season means that turkey will highlight the menu at the annual Harvest Turkey Dinner at the Minetto United Methodist Church at 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19.

     Customers who prefer to eat at home can go inside for carryout service or use the drive-through take-out line. All they need to do is pull into the parking lot from Empire Avenue and give their order to an attendant who radios it inside. They then drive forward, where more attendants collect payment, deliver the order to the car and send them on their way.
     Those who prefer to eat at the church may go inside and eat in the dining room where they will likely find some of their friends and neighbors. Either way, everyone gets a complete traditional home-cooked dinner including roast turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, butternut squash, cole slaw, cranberry sauce, dinner roll and homemade pie.
     Regular dinners are $9 and smaller ones are $6.
     The church is located at the corner of state Route 48 and county Route 8 in the village of Minetto, and the building is fully accessible.
     The church recently added a shed at the back of the building for collecting used clothing for distribution in this country and abroad to people in need. Acceptable items include all clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts, purses, blankets, sheets, pillowcases, drapes, and stuffed toys. Guests attending the dinner are encouraged to bring recyclables with them.
     This year's dinner will use 32 turkeys weighing more than 700 pounds, 288 pounds of potatoes, 260 pounds of squash and more than 125 homemade pies. Planning and conducting the dinner will involve more than 110 individuals of the congregation and community, from about 100 households. Most participants have done their jobs for several years so they have developed considerable skill and efficiency.
     "We look forward to seeing long-time friends and new customers as well," said Pastor Chuck Forbes. "Our dinner has become an autumn tradition that is well loved by the people of our community and church."
     The church has been conducting an annual Harvest Dinner for many years — the actual number is unknown. It is a traditional home-cooked roast turkey dinner. It was originally served in the dining room, but gradually more and more people wanted dinners to take home. In 2002, the church added the option of drive-through service so people would not have to park and come inside the building. That first year, 182 of the total of 474 meals went out the drive-through.      

     Last year, 486 of the 942 meals served were delivered to 187 vehicles in the drive-through line; 21 percent were served in the dining room, 28% were percent arried away by people who came inside the building; and the remaining 52 percent were served via the drive-through.

     The church holds its harvest turkey dinner each fall to supplement support of its ministries in Minetto and around the world. More than 16 percent of the church's annual budget is used for service outside the parish. That money is targeted for such purposes as health insurance for retired clergy and their dependents; worldwide missions and services to the poor, disabled, and disadvantaged; overhead expenses for United Methodist Committee on Relief disaster assistance; Upper New York Annual Conference services and programs; interdenominational cooperation; 11 historically African-American colleges in the United States; and Africa University, the only United Methodist university in Africa, which serves 1,300 students each year in agriculture, business and other fields of study.
     The people of the church also support a number of outreach efforts within the community beyond what is provided by our official budget. Included are monthly gifts of non-perishable foods to the Oswego County Salvation Army; a recent collection of school supplies for the Minetto Elementary School; monthly free dinners; contributions of food-stamp ineligible necessities to the Helping Hands Cupboard at Fulton State Street United Methodist Church; clothing and gifts provided to children and families of need at Christmas time; assistance with the Oswego County Opportunities house vegetable garden; a monthly noisy can offering given to a wide variety of local charitable purposes; and providing meeting space for several music, exercise and Scouting groups.
     Worship services are at 10 s.m. Sunday mornings and visitors are always welcome. More information about the church may be found at http://www.MinettoUMC.org/.