‘There’s a lot of people out there who are in need’ this Thanksgiving

Published: Nov. 22, 2023 at 5:19 PM EST
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OGDENSBURG, New York (WWNY) - With less than a day until show time, the phone kept ringing Wednesday at the Ogdensburg Knights of Columbus Hall.

“Yes, hello? I’m wanting to reserve three pick-ups of the turkey dinner on Thursday.”

Head chef Bill Taylor heard the phone and counted.

“As the phone keeps ringing, the numbers keep going up,” Taylor said.

Wednesday was preparation day for the Knights of Columbus team, hundreds of pounds of turkey, and the rest of the Thanksgiving staples, all to get ready for big numbers Thursday.

“This year it’ll feed 1000 people,” Taylor said.

“There’s a lot of people out there who are in need and this handles one of those needs,” said Garry Seymour, a cook.

And to serve a thousand people, Bill and his chefs need help distributing the food.

“We have, believe it or not, 30 drivers coming in. They start at 11 o’clock delivering,” Taylor said.

This year, the delivery crew will go beyond the Ogdensburg city limits.

“We expanded the area a little bit more this year. We’re going a little bit towards Heuvy (Heuvelton) and we’re halfway to Canton. We used to just do the city,” Taylor said.

And when you’ve done this for more than 30 years, preparing a big thanksgiving meal becomes second nature

“It’s becoming a habit,” says Taylor.

Alongside delivery, you can pick up or dine in. Food is hitting the plates starting at 11am.