To our Volunteers and Donors:

Letter of Appreciation
2025 Annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner

We want to thank our donors and volunteers for making the 25th Annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner an overwhelming success. What a tribute to our founder, Minister Debi Spinner! This year, on the 25th Anniversary of the event, you as a community came together resulting in our biggest and best event ever.

Because of you, 1,132 meals were served to individuals across Page County on Thanksgiving Day (438 dine-in, 489 carry-out, and 205 meals delivered by volunteers). This is a new record, up from 1,005 meals served in 2024.

While the meal is the highlight of this event, it is ultimately about the people. They are the reason Minister Spinner started this event than 25 years ago, and they are the reason it continues today. She founded the event on her love of God, love for people, and sincere desire to serve her community. The Thanksgiving Day Dinner never fails draw people together.

Some of the highlights from this year’s event include:

• After locating our website, a family of six from Clearwater, Florida called ahead to volunteer. They arrived on Thanksgiving Day willing to do whatever was needed and stayed with us until the end. Their children, age eight to twelve, served alongside of our adult volunteers. The family’s two sons and their eight-year-old twin daughters were some of our best help.
• A local, 10-year-old girl with a desire to serve asked her mom if they could spend the day volunteering. This was their first time at the event, but that didn’t stop Bryce and her mom from jumping right in. Bryce quickly teamed up with the twins from Florida, and they wiped down tables as soon as they turned over. It’s always wonderful to see our next generation of volunteers so eager to serve.
• While the event was still in progress, one of our volunteer drivers called to relay a message from a Vietnam Veteran who received a delivery meal for the first time. The Veteran wanted everyone involved to know just how much he appreciated our generosity, saying that he would not have had a Thanksgiving dinner if it were not for our event.
• For the second year in a row, we received donations from individuals outside our community. They had heard about the event and wanted to be a blessing to others, regardless of where they lived.
• A number of individuals and families visiting and/or new to the area came to serve as an opportunity to meet and make some new friends.
• Some of our guests shared that they came to the event to keep from being alone on Thanksgiving. These are often our most grateful guests. The event not only provides them with the company they’re seeking. It gives them the opportunity to see some old friends and make some new ones.
• We had a record number of volunteers this year, including many Community Works’ team members.

Again, thank you for making the 25th Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner an amazing success. Your kindness and generosity have touched the lives of many in a truly meaningful way.

Terri Mayes

On behalf of The Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner Organizers & Volunteers

Historical Timeline

2000-2019: Debi and Team of Caring People Host the Thanksgiving Dinner for Page County, Virginia
2020: Pandemic
2021-2023: Debi’s Legacy Continues
2024: Thanksgiving Day Dinner Version 2.0

FREE! 25th Annual
Traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner

Thursday, November 27, 2025

11 AM – 2 PM

American Legion Hall

106 Zerkel Street

Luray, VA 22825

• Eat in or Carry Out – No reservations required.
• Delivery Upon Request for Homebound Individuals
• Call Terri Mayes at: 540-244-7971 or use the online contact page.
• Contact Betty Knowles at: 540-742-1697
• Contact Jeff & Mary Turner at: 540-244-4470