Members of the Spirit of Oakdale Committee are gearing up for the 20th annual Oakdale Thanksgiving Dinner, to be served at the Gene Bianchi Community Center, 110 S. Second Ave., Oakdale.

Serving will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 and all are welcome to share the community meal, free of charge.

Among those that started the annual gathering and still going strong are Mickey Peabody and Vickie Thompson. The call has gone out for donations to help put the dinner on, and Thompson said they are in dire need of turkeys this year, as they are finding there is a shortage.

“We are about 40 turkeys down,” said Thompson, noting that turkeys can be dropped off anytime at Bachi’s Restaurant. Other donations are also needed to help put on the dinner, but Thompson said one area where they are set to go is volunteers, with more than enough helpers.

Typically, local elementary schools get involved with food drives and the high school’s S Club also usually contributes food items for the dinner, as do many other local clubs, service organizations, businesses and individuals.

More information about the dinner and what you can contribute is available by contacting Thompson at 848-0830 (leave a message) or Peabody at 471-9859.