Thornton Memorial Dinner brings Christmas

Deliveries, drive-throughs grow despite warm weather over holiday
 
With temperatures approaching the 70s, the annual Linn Thornton Memorial Community Christmas Day Dinner in Monett took place without additional surprises from Mother Nature, but still offered challenges for organizers.
Earnie Thornton, leading the event for his 12th year since the passing of his father, expected a larger crowd in the fellowship hall at the First United Methodist Church, though he cut back to 13 turkeys to reduce the amount of leftovers from recent years. The effects of the COVID pandemic, however, still lingered within the population.
The game plan, followed by Earnie’s son, Gary Thornton, who led the kitchen crew, was to send out deliveries between 10 and 11 a.m., then to begin serving in the hall. Deliveries, including 47 to Cox Monett Hospital, and more to Mercy Hospital in Aurora, the Casey’s convenience stores in Monett and Pierce City, went out as planned.
People continued to call in requests, and many arrived for drive-through service, like those attending the Community Kitchen, rather than staying for meals. Earnie Thornton said, “All the turkeys were gone in the first hour and a half.”
The carry-out dishes went out so quickly that tallying the meals served turned into an estimate, resorting to packing available aluminum containers.
Thornton figured by the end, around 500 meals went out to deliveries and drive-throughs, while between 300 and 400 dined in at the church.
“There was a lady who came by at 8 a.m. in a car, saying she was homeless,” Thornton said. “She looked the part. She said she was looking for a shelter. She added she needed food bad. She waited, slept in her car, till we had food ready. I loaded her up good. Then she drove on her way.”
Linn Thornton began his community Christmas dinner for travelers and people who could no longer prepare a large meal for themselves, or no longer had family and would enjoy the fellowship of others for the occasion. The dinner continued to grow, reaching more than 1,200 people some years, before deliveries began to rival those who attended the meal in person. Earnie Thornton was ready for 1,000 this year.
Gary Thornton said most of his kitchen crew returned to help again this year. A large group of volunteers arrived to make deliveries, as well as the serving and cleaning teams, including several younger people.
Earnie Thornton said he didn’t receive the wild pig donation he had hoped for, but thanks to chicken donated by Tyson Foods and the hams that were prepared, in addition to the potatoes, vegetables, cheese from Schreiber and an abundance of desserts, the event still offered plenty of food. Earnie himself spent several days preparing venison sausage.
Several women dining recalled having their own family meals in past years, but with their families growing up and moving away, coming to the dinner for Christmas became a good option. Longtime Monett resident Betty Brandt, now 91, said she received a delivered meal last year, but this year wanted to get out and enjoy the meal in person.
Those having the most fun seemed to be the volunteers. Kevin Cloud, a member of the property committee at the church, said he retired this past year. With more time on his hands, he came to make deliveries.
Michelle Myers of Monett was another first-time volunteer. An emergency room nurse at Mercy Hospital in Aurora, she learned of the dinner from friends. As activities started up, she helped in the kitchen, delivered some meals, then transitioned to the serving line.
“Serving other people is the best part,” Myers said. “It’s nice seeing people smile.”
As the influx of people began to slow, the serving line closed down at 1 p.m., rather than stay fully active until 2 p.m. as planned. Later arrivals still received a full plate scooped up from covered stainless steel serving pans by volunteers.
The Christmas toy distribution, Linn Thornton’s original Christmas effort, went well this year. With help spearheaded by Architectural Systems Inc., Earnie Thornton said there was an abundance of donations. Some late donations left a starter supply for next year. He said he was able to place toys in the hands of 500 children.
Earnie said this was his last year running the dinner due to his health. His son, Gary, plans to carry on the tradition next year. Gary had triple bypass surgery in September and was cleared to return to full activity on Dec. 24, so he was engaged as usual in this year’s effort. Both Thorntons were tired by 1 p.m., but pleased the event continued bringing Christmas to many.