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Giving thanks to the Germantown community
By Andrew Amelinckx
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
GERMANTOWN — For more than a decade Donna Diehl, a Germantown resident, has been coordinating a free Thanksgiving Day meal at Palatine Park in Germantown for her community.
“We started in 1996,” she recalled.
The effort, which started small and has steadily grown over the last 13 years, began through Diehl’s religious faith.
“I must have prayed about it,” she said, “and the Lord said go for it.”
Although she has led the effort, she hasn’t done it alone.
She said that a number of people and businesses donate items and volunteer their time.
“We have oodles of volunteers every year,” she said.
They average about 75 dinners, which include all the traditional fare — turkey, mashed potatoes, corn and even homemade pies.
They are doing both take-out and home delivery orders and this year, said Diehl, a local Cub Scout troop will be serving a sit down meal as well.
“It’s in the activities building at Palatine Park,” she said.
She said she does it for those in need and others, including those who live alone.
“If you live alone you probably don’t want to cook a whole turkey just for one person,” she said, “you’d be eating it until after New Year’s.”
Diehl has lived in Germantown for 47 years, having moved there from across the Hudson River in Coxsackie.
She’s a former councilwoman for Germantown and is currently serving as deputy town clerk.
Diehl is also the organist for the Livingston Memorial Church in Linlithgo.
She feels strongly about her community.
“As a community we have to help each other,” she said.
According to Diehl, there was another reason for starting the meal event.
“It’s kind of exciting to do this,” she said. “Doing things for others just makes you feel good.”
The event is from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 26.
The park is located at 50 Palatine Park Road in Germantown.
It’s free, but reservations are required.
For more information, or to make a reservation, call Donna Diehl at 518-537-6405.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518-828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, go to www.registerstar.com.
“We started in 1996,” she recalled.
The effort, which started small and has steadily grown over the last 13 years, began through Diehl’s religious faith.
“I must have prayed about it,” she said, “and the Lord said go for it.”
Although she has led the effort, she hasn’t done it alone.
She said that a number of people and businesses donate items and volunteer their time.
“We have oodles of volunteers every year,” she said.
They average about 75 dinners, which include all the traditional fare — turkey, mashed potatoes, corn and even homemade pies.
They are doing both take-out and home delivery orders and this year, said Diehl, a local Cub Scout troop will be serving a sit down meal as well.
“It’s in the activities building at Palatine Park,” she said.
She said she does it for those in need and others, including those who live alone.
“If you live alone you probably don’t want to cook a whole turkey just for one person,” she said, “you’d be eating it until after New Year’s.”
Diehl has lived in Germantown for 47 years, having moved there from across the Hudson River in Coxsackie.
She’s a former councilwoman for Germantown and is currently serving as deputy town clerk.
Diehl is also the organist for the Livingston Memorial Church in Linlithgo.
She feels strongly about her community.
“As a community we have to help each other,” she said.
According to Diehl, there was another reason for starting the meal event.
“It’s kind of exciting to do this,” she said. “Doing things for others just makes you feel good.”
The event is from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 26.
The park is located at 50 Palatine Park Road in Germantown.
It’s free, but reservations are required.
For more information, or to make a reservation, call Donna Diehl at 518-537-6405.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518-828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, go to www.registerstar.com.
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