Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 30, 1995                   TAG: 9511300084
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-21   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SALEM CHURCH REACHES OUT ON THANKSGIVING DAY

After four years, the church's annual outreach to the lonely in the community is a success. More than 100 ate the free turkey dinners at the church or, if unable to get out at all, had them delivered to their homes.

"We couldn't do it without the help of dozens of members. They call, cook, plan, clean up, deliver food, even bring people who don't have a way to get here," said Wendy Marie James, this year's dinner coordinator.

Cliffodean Hudson, a long-time people service advocate, said the Thanksgiving Day project began in 1992 after Dr. Hayden Hollingsworth Jr., a former member, promoted the dinner as a successor to an open house Christmas dinner held for years by long-time Salemite Gertrude Logan.

It's outreach that another active member Sydney Nordt appreciates. Workers try not to be patronizing, Nordt said, a project veteran.

"It's not charity just for the poor. We have lots of single, older people here whose children may be too far way to visit or who lack any close relatives to be with on Thanksgiving. We really do invite them to join our church family on a family's day."

It also was the outreach, in addition to the opportunity to socialize that encouraged newcomers Iris and Pete Peterson and Jeanette and Roy Kayton to help prepare and then clean up after the meal. The Petersons recently transferred from another Salem church, and the Kaytons moved from Portsmouth two years ago.

Like the Petersons and Kaytons, many Salem Presbyterian members are relatively new. Even the pastor, the Rev. Dean Lindsay, has only been there a year. And, although he can't take credit for starting the dinner, Lindsay, said he heartily supports dinner fellowship.

You didn't have to be alone to enjoy Thursday's dinner, Susan Smith told me. Accompanied by her teen-age son, who didn't want his name in the paper, and her fiance, Jim Gray, Smith said she grew up in the congregation where her father, Bob Hockett, is still active. So the household returns yearly to catch up on the news, she said.

Debbie Clingenpeel, though, came to work. Clingenpeel, who said she had other family at home, helped serve and clean up.

She told me she had received help in the past and wanted to express her thanks by helping someone less fortunate on Thanksgiving.

Julie attends an after-school program the church began last year. Clingenpeel said that although they are members of another church, "People have been so nice to her here that we may start coming all the time."

I met these diners:

Lucille All, who lives alone in Catawba, who came at the invitation of her travel companion, Jean Hanson. It was her first time.

Floyd Andrews, who regularly attends a LOA-Area Agency on Aging Diners Club that meets at a senior citizens' community center in Salem, was at a table with a half dozen others. He's alone in Roanoke and said he appreciates the company as well as the home-prepared food at the church's dinner.

Bob Goodlett, a retired salesman who takes his keyboard to several Roanoke Valley nursing homes and community gatherings, including the Diners Club. Goodlett was taking another dinner home to his disabled brother, Bill, a retired educator. They are long-time Salemites.

Henry Duncan, an unemployed man and Diners Club regular, who has been to all four dinners. He lives with his mother and sister but they preferred to stay home.

Recently divorced Pauline Boothe, who has been to previous meals after hearing about them from one of her employers, was sitting alone. Getting out with friendly folks helped cheer up her day, she said.