Zonta turkey dinner Sunday

Club serves over 1,000 meals

[October 28, 2008]  The Zonta Club of Lincoln will have its annual turkey dinner Sunday.

The club was formed in 1957 and began the annual event in 1965, when Marian Loeber-Freehill became president of Zonta Club of Lincoln and decided to change the fundraising focus of the organization. Up to that time, the club was involved in many money-making projects, such as raffle tickets on a fur stole and selling candy.

Loeber-Freehill was quoted as saying, "We almost wore out our welcome with friends and supporters as we sold all those raffle tickets and candy bars. I decided to propose to the membership that we have one big project a year that would make enough money to satisfy the requirements of Zonta International and to support numerous service projects locally."

The first dinner was served upstairs at the old Knights of Columbus Hall, located on North Kickapoo Street (above Abe's Carmelcorn). Within a few years that location was too small, as the members were serving over 300 meals in the short span of just a few hours. Zonta then moved the dinner over to Carroll Catholic School, where there were no stairs and many more members' hands to help.

Eventually the dinner became so successful that it had to be moved eight years ago to its present location at the Lincoln Community High School cafeteria.

Zonta plans to prepare and serve between 1,100 and 1,200 patrons this Sunday.

All Zonta members help with the meal, starting on Saturday morning at 7, with the dinner as close to homemade as possible. The dressing is made from a recipe provided by the late Ruth Buckles (a local realtor). Many of the desserts are homemade by the members.

Profits from the fundraiser go for scholarships and local service projects as well as Zonta International projects. Some of the local projects supported in the past are Head Start, Logan County Food Pantry, Sojourn, Domestic Violence Prevention, Salvation Army, Reading is Fundamental and Habitat for Humanity.

The date again is Nov. 2, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

Tickets are available from any of the current 38 Zonta members or may be purchased at the door.

For tickets or further information, individuals can contact Judy Awe at 732-4758.

[Text from file received from Zonta Club of Lincoln]