[November 06, 2012]    

A turkey dinner tradition that began in the upstairs meeting room of the Knights of Columbus reached its 48th anniversary on Sunday.

Judy Awe recalls that Zonta served approximately 300 dinners the first year, when the event was at the K of C's, which was then above where Abe's is now.

Eventually, the dinner was moved to Carroll Catholic School, where the more mature Zonta volunteers did not need to climb stairs. There, they were able to serve 900 to 1,000 dinners.

The dinner is now served at Lincoln Community High School.

"It is a good setup out here," Awe said.

Four cafeteria workers from the school assist them, and the carryout is easier and faster. Honor society students also help at the dinner.

While there was a steady flow of the hungry going in, if you listened, the most-often-heard compliments from people coming out were for one dessert or another, such as chocolate mint fudge cake.

"The response has been good," Awe said near the end of the day.

Zontas do good works in the community. In 1981, they began providing health care education scholarships. Scholarships have since diversified to include other fields of interest that affect the community, including business.

[LDN]