Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Caroline Cotton wasn't sure whether she and her fellow volunteers were going to pull off their annual Thanksgiving dinner for Key West shut-ins this year.

The Salvation Army's pantries were empty. Volunteers and food were scarce. The nationwide economic crisis had reached the end of U.S. 1, forcing more people out of work and seeking help.

Businesses throughout the Florida Keys continue to suffer, state figures show. Through August, the last month for which statistics were available, taxable sales were down 10 percent. And the local unemployment rate, while lower than most of Florida, stood at 7 percent through the end of October, up from 4.9 percent last year.

Cotton, a former Florida Keys Salvation Army president who continues to volunteer with the nonprofit, reached out to the community, hoping for help.

"The response makes me cry," Cotton said Tuesday. "We live in such a wonderful place."

The Westin Key West Resort Marina donated 12 turkeys. The Spottswood family sent food and money. Attorneys, business owners, real estate agents and others responded as well, saving the event, Cotton said. The group feeds about 100 people every year.

Key West resident Donna Nelson and her three children -- Morgan, 15; Taylor, 19; and Jordan, 22 -- helped deliver all the food last year. When they heard Cotton needed help this year, they offered to help cook all the food.

"I heard they were really in trouble this year, so I called Caroline," Nelson said. "It's just one of those things. We know not everyone is as blessed or as lucky as we are. I enjoy cooking anyway, so it's fun for me."

Cotton still needs help, though. She's looking for drivers, delivery people and pies.

"We have one stove with four burners," Cotton said, laughing. "So I could still use some helpers. And about five more pies. If we can get some more delivery folks and a few pies, we'll get it done."

Anyone who wants to help can call 305-923-9174.

Glad Tidings Community Church puts on the largest Thanksgiving spread for the public, averaging about 300 diners. But the potential number, especially in the current economic crisis, is higher.

"Our numbers of homeless is over 500 people in the Key West area, so it can go as high as that," Southernmost Homeless Assistance League Executive Director Wendy Coles said of the expected turnout. "They're still looking for volunteers."

Anyone who wants to help can call 305-296-5773.

Several other local charities feed their clients on a pre-arranged basis, such as the MARC House, Florida Keys Outreach Coalition and Metropolitan Community Church.

The church will provide 30 baskets of food this year, a slight increase over last year's 24. The Rev. Joe McMurray said nonprofits gave more to the cause this year, whereas the community gave less.

"I would have thought more people would have contacted us directly like they did last year," he said, "but I think more people went through the organizations this year."

Upper Keys charities

Tough times haven't stopped local residents and businesses from making sure everyone in the area has access to a hot Thanksgiving meal.

"Our food drive has more than doubled," said Cheri Bohnstedt, who is helping put together Island Community Church's annual Thanksgiving program. "I have been really impressed. We have people walking in carrying cases of green beans and cases of soup. We haven't been turned down by anyone."

Each year, Island Community Church delivers hundreds of ready-made Thanksgiving meals to the sick, elderly and infirm between Marathon and Key Largo. Bohnstedt estimates this year the church will deliver 500 meals for Thanksgiving.

The church also serves a communal holiday dinner on the Island Christian School ball fields on Thanksgiving evening, which typically draws well over 100 diners.

Island Community Church is not alone in the Upper Keys, either in hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner for the general public, or in saying that despite everything, donations this year have been robust.

From the Elks Club in Tavernier to the Moose Lodge and First Baptist Church in Islamorada, reports are similar.

"In our community, when somebody holds out their hand, there's always somebody there to put some money in it," said Marcia DeClue, an Elks member who is running the organization's free Thanksgiving meal, which she expects to draw some 200 people. "I have never lived anywhere like it."

Moose Governor Bernie Kay said that everyone from lodge members to residents to nearby businesses like the Green Turtle Inn and Bob's Bunz have stepped up to help with their Thursday afternoon feast, where 200 to 300 people are expected.

It has been a couple years since the Moose, now newly renovated, has hosted a Thanksgiving meal. But Kay says donations are doing at least as well as back then, when the economy was much healthier.

"I think we are getting a little more success," he said. "The business people are hurting here, but a lot of them have jumped in."

The economic downturn has led to large attendance at the food bank First Baptist puts on each week, the Rev. Darell Milsap said. He expected plenty of people to show up for the church's free Thanksgiving meal Thursday afternoon.

But with the help of other churches, businesses like Tower of Pizza and the Trading Post and lots of volunteers and individual donors, he says there will be plenty of food.

"It's a real community thing," Milsap said.

alinhardt@keysnews.com

rsilk@keysnews.com