Community holiday tradition ends after 31 years.
After 31 years of loyal service to the community, the beloved, annual Free Whiteaker Thanksgiving Dinner has been canceled — for the year and indefinite future. The dinner has been known throughout the community as a staple holiday get-together.
In past years, dinner organizers had seen turnouts of over 2500 people. With the rising cases of COVID-19 in Lane County, organizers did not feel comfortable gathering a large crowd, even if masks and distancing guidelines were in place.
The Free Whiteaker Thanksgiving Dinner was known as a haven filled with warm food, clean clothes, fresh bedding, haircuts, massage, and energy work for the unhoused and housed community of Lane County. No one was not invited.
“This has always been an event where the community came together to show they cared about each other in a respectful way, in a caring way,” said Beverly Farfan, head coordinator of the dinner since 1996. “It extended beyond the Eugene community, I always said this event was like a jigsaw puzzle; I opened up the box but so many people from families to businesses and organizations came to put it together.”
The event normally began at 7 a.m. in a welcome tent where volunteers provided coffee in exchange for smiles; in another tent was the Lane Community College Nursing Program giving free flu shots. Their motto, “neighbors helping neighbors,” rang truer each year. As the popularity of the event grew, volunteers started coming from all corners of Lane County: Springfield, Cottage Grove, Veneta, Junction City. The dinner spirited the notion, according to Farfan, of people supporting people regardless of their resources or circumstances.
The Rotary Club of Eugene Airport donated tents, the 4J School District provided tables and chairs, various schools and buildings offered their property as grounds for the event until eventually, Lane County Head Start offered their building as a permanent yearly residence. No part of this event existed without the energy of neighborliness and generosity. Food was provided by Grocery Outlet, Safeway, Great Harvest Bread Co., Emerald Fruit & Produce, last year alone 400 pounds of tofu were donated by Surata Soyfoods Inc.
“The big people who we really couldn’t have done it without,” Farfan said, was Lane Community College. She especially applauded Lane’s Culinary and Hospitality Program and Chef Clive Wanstall for their overall involvement and dedication the last 25 years. Beginning the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day, culinary students and faculty began food preparation. At the event, hospitality students waited tables and cleared plates through the end of the night.
The Torch reached out to the LCC Culinary & Hospitality Program for input but did not receive a response in time for publication.
“Many of these people came year after year after year because they wanted to!” Farfan said while reflecting on the level of community support. “I feel really sad about it [ending the dinner] but what made me decide it was okay was when I saw all the other people, the bigger and smaller groups, that are doing what we do but they do it every week!”
The Free Whiteaker Thanksgiving Dinner may have come to an end, but that does not mean community support is not available in Lane County. Numerous organizations are at the ready; they’re especially welcoming to any donors. Volunteer opportunities are listed on F.W.T.D.’s website including Burrito Brigade, Waste to Taste, Carry IT Forward, White Bird Clinic, Hosea Youth Services, and Nightingale Hosted Shelters.
Farfan, reflecting on the event, encouraged people to always look for ways to reach out and offer their assistance to others and spread kindness throughout the year, not only the holiday season.
