NORTH COUNTY – Free Thanksgiving dinners are being offered and all are welcome to partake in both Oroville and Tonasket.
In Oroville, dinner starts at 1 p.m. at Linda’s Bakery, located at 712 14th Avenue. The free traditional turkey dinner will include all the trimmings, as well as a selection of different pies afterwards, including pumpkin and apple.
“I am cooking up eight turkeys and everyone is welcome,” said Linda Darrow, who with husband David, own Linda’s bakery. “People have been very helpful and we’ve received several generous donations so the cost is pretty much taken care of.”
Darrow said John Desjardins of Hometown Pizza and Pasta, is making several pies that he is donating to the dinner.
“I have a feeling we will have a lot of people this year… add to that the Oroville Senior Center isn’t doing a dinner and the Tonasket Tavie won’t be either,” said Darrow.
She said they’ve put up flyers in both Oroville and Tonasket advertising the free supper, which goes on until at least 5 p.m.
This is the Darrows eighth year of offering free Thanksgiving dinner and she said that they have quite a few volunteers helping. She also said she hopes the weather holds so her cousins are able to come over from the west side of the state to help, as they often do.
In Tonasket, the Eagles is serving a dinner at the Aerie at 213 S. Western Avenue from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. before closing at 6 p.m. The menu is a turkey dinner with all the fixings. The fraternal organization is asking people to bring dessert dishes, but they’ll be providing the rest of the meal at no cost, although donations are welcome.
Due to the change in ownership, the Tonasket Saloon and Tavie Café is not offering a free dinner this year.
The American Legion Post #82 in Tonasket said they would also not be offering a free Thanksgiving dinner this year, but added they would be offering a free Christmas dinner.