Thanksgiving is around the corner!

Some of you know my plans for serving a home-style Thanksgiving meal for the inpatient families this November. I am officially in planning mode for this event. I have learned through the last 2 events we threw at the hospital, that the more people I have involved in even a small way, the easier things go and the less stressful for the helpers!

Here are the tentative plans and where I need help:

Thursday, November 22 - the Jubilee Room at USA Children's & Women's, the room is reserved from 1 pm to 5 pm. The actual dinners should take place between 2 pm and 4 pm.

(I really don't expect there to be very many families. Usually if there is any way, the hospital will allow the kids to be discharged in time to be home for that day, or they postpone any elective procedures until the next day. If we find that we have too much food, we will invite the nurses to come over and grab something since they are also missing their family get-togethers.)

This is what I need donated:
FOOD:
turkeys (2 or 3) - we will be frying them earlier that day, if anybody wants to help do that, let us know!
pans of dressing (3-4)
sweet potato casserole
green bean casserole
mashed potatoes
cranberry sauce
gravy
rolls
assorted pies, traditional Thanksgiving desserts
any other sides that you think would be appropriate
sweet & unsweet tea (a few gallons)
coffee (might be able to get some there at the hospital)

DECORATIONS:
Thanksgiving table arrangements
table cloths in fall colors
any fall color candles/candleholders

DISHES:
I am asking for a set of 4 to 8 piece place settings of REAL dishes, preferably fall color/style, to be labeled underneath with a piece of tape with your NAME written on them. I need dinner plate, bread plate, cup/saucer. I hope to be able to seat a family with a complete set of matching dinnerware. If a family of 4 arrives, then I will use the 4 piece set. If a family of 5 arrives, I will use 5 of the 8 piece set, etc. The reason I am going to this effort is because you rarely get to eat off anything that is breakable, and those white cafeteria plates just aren't festive! I will have a very safe and detailed way of identifying your donated dishes so they will be returned to you just as you sent them and CLEAN! (which includes taking pictures of your set, and noting any special handling)

I will have a special gift for those who help that day also. If you are interested in volunteering a couple of hours that day, please email me or call me. I understand if you have family things to do, but I know we usually do NOTHING that afternoon but sit around and wait for the next feast! At least we will be burning off the lunchtime feast calories! :)

I think we will be able to do most of this without much cost at all. That is if I can get these things donated in advance. Please contact your Sunday School class, your coworkers and see if they will be willing to pitch in a couple of dollars to buy a pan of dressing, or a pie. I think things will be pretty awesome!!

With HOPE,
Tammy