The Hastings Banner — Thursday, November 18, 2021 — Page 7Breakfast continues,
with precautions
Emmanuel Episcopal Church Community
Breakfast continues to be offered Saturday
mornings, between 8 and 9:30 a.m.
However, in view of the increase in
COVID-19 cases in Barry County and the
increased stress on the health care system and
hospitals, church officials also are increasing
protection levels for guests and parishioners.Diners should be prepared to wear
masks except when eating. In trying to
balance welcoming the community, with
health and safety in mind, church repre-
sentatives said guests are invited to enjoy
these community connections, but to
practice social distancing and avoid lin-
gering.Drive-through Thanksgiving meal
returning to Green Street Church
Benjamin Simon
Staff Writer
Every November, Margaret Hollenbeck
makes 40 pies. Five different kinds of pie,
too: Pumpkin, pecan, blueberry, cherry, apple
and maybe even Dutch apple pie.
Hollenbeck makes them for the hundreds
of people who attend the annual Thanksgiving
meal at Green Street United Methodist
Church.
In a normal year, attendees pack into the
church’s dining area for a buffet-style lunch.
This year, the church will provide the meal
using a drive-through format due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
People may visit the church between 1 and
3 p.m. next Thursday, Thanksgiving, and pick
up their food without getting out of their
vehicles.
The tradition started 30 years ago to give
back to those who couldn’t purchase their
own Thanksgiving dinner.
“It was built around, ‘Hey, let’s do some-
thing for the needy, the less fortunate who
aren’t able to afford a nice Thanksgiving
meal,’” she said.
After the event’s founding couple left the
church in the early 1990s, Hollenbeck and
her husband, Larry, took over. But back then,
the meal would attract 30 to 40 people.
“It took a while to get word out,” she said.
They had more volunteers than actual
attendees.
That’s when they decided to open up the
event to everybody – not just those who
couldn’t afford a meal.
“Maybe you’re just not able to do all that
work to prepare a Thanksgiving meal, maybe
you don’t have room at your house for a big
family meal, maybe your family is out of
town or out of the state,” she said.
“So, we said, ‘Hey, anybody can come.’”
Since then, the event has continued to
grow, reaching more than 200 attendees in
recent years and pushing the space to themaximum. Her husband died in 2013, but
Hollenbeck and her crew of volunteers have
continued to provide the traditional meal.
When the pandemic continued in 2020,
they decided it was unsafe to host so many
people in the same space. Instead, they creat-
ed the drive-through format that would allow
them to still reach people in the area.
“It just feels like it’s still that community
even though we’re not all eating together,”
Hollenbeck said. “I still feel that the commu-
nity is here, waiting for the time we can come
back.”
The drive-through didn’t hamper atten-
dance. Actually, it allowed them to expand, as
they handed out more than 300 meals.
This year, they will return with the sameformat. Monday, Hollenbeck and the rest of
her volunteer team will start preparing
mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, squash,
cranberry salad, rolls, pie and 300 pounds of
turkey. For the next four days, Hollenbeck
practically lives in the church kitchen. And
although everyone cannot be together, she
said she hopes they can still provide a sense
of connectivity for people in the community.
“We’re still here for you,” she said. “We’re
still trying to do what we can to kind of take
care of the community.”
To receive a meal, people must make res-
ervations in advance by emailing office.
[email protected] or calling the
church office, 269-945-9574. Email is pre-
ferred, she said.Hastings residents assist, perform, awarded at National FFA Convention
Hastings FFA members – and thousands
more from across the country – were happy to
be able to attend the recent 94th National FFA
Convention in Indianapolis.
Two Hastings FFA members took part:
Kaylie Carl and Lillian Wierenga.
Kaylie Carl was one of 53 students from
the U.S., including three from Michigan, who
spent the week in Indianapolis practicing and
performing with the National FFA Band.
Members must submit an application and
recorded audition and be accepted to perform
with the band.
Lillian Wierenga, a 2018 graduate of
Hastings High School, received one of the
highest honors as an FFA member, the
American FFA Degree. She currently is an
undergraduate research assistant in plant soil/
microbial sciences at Michigan State
University.
Several adults from Hastings also attended
the convention in an official capacity.
Hastings co-director of bands Spencer White
also directs the National FFA Band, having
taken over after Joe LaJoye retired from the
national podium. LaJoye assisted the band
the first three days as the musicians convened
and prepared for their performances.
Craig Holley and Jeff Buehl have assisted
the national band for more than 20 years,
repairing instruments, moving equipment,
chaperoning and assisting wherever needed.
Beth Jonkers has been the assistant director
of the National FFA Band for the past three
years. Carrie Carl, an advisor with the
Hastings FFA chapter, has been a national
band chaperone for three years, as well.
Sandy Billingsley has stepped up recently to
join the ranks as a chaperone.THORNAPPLE KELLOGG ATHLETIC BOOSTERSCRAFT AND VENDOR SHOW
Saturday November 2 0 , 202 1
9 :00 am – 3:00 pm
Thornapple Kellogg High School
3385 Bender Road, Middleville MI 49333
(enter thru Athletic entrance – show is in Main Gym)Come out and support your local crafters and vendors while
supporting your local athletes.
Pancake Breakfast
Bake Sale
Concession Stand
FREE AdmissionAll proceeds benefit Thornapple Kellogg Athletic Boosters
THORNAPPLE KELLOGG ATHLETIC BOOSTERSCraft & Vendor Show
THORNAPPLE KELLOGG ATHLETIC BOOSTERSCRAFT AND VENDOR SHOW
Saturday November 2 0 , 202 1
9 :00 am – 3:00 pm
Thornapple Kellogg High School
3385 Bender Road, Middleville MI 49333
(enter thru Athletic entrance – show is in Main Gym)Come out and support your local crafters and vendors while
supporting your local athletes.
Pancake Breakfast
Bake Sale
Concession Stand
FREE AdmissionAll proceeds benefit Thornapple Kellogg Athletic BoostersAll proceeds benefit Thornapple Kellogg Athletic Boosters.Come out and support your local
crafters and vendors while supporting
your local athletes.THORNAPPLE KELLOGG ATHLETIC BOOSTERS
CRAFT AND VENDOR SHOW
Saturday November 2 0 , 202 1
9 :00 am – 3:00 pm
Thornapple Kellogg High School
3385 Bender Road, Middleville MI 49333
(enter thru Athletic entrance – show is in Main Gym)
Come out and support your local crafters and vendors while
supporting your local athletes.
Pancake Breakfast
Bake Sale
Concession Stand
FREE Admission
Margaret Hollenbeck gathers ingredients to make pies for a previous Thanksgiving All proceeds benefit Thornapple Kellogg Athletic^ Boosters^
meal at Green Street United Methodist Church. (File photo)
The image of Hastings sophomore Kaylie Carl performing with National FFA Band is projected on the big screen during the
recent national convention.
Kaylie Carl, (center) a member of the 2021 National FFA Band, is pictured with her
mom, Carrie Carl, and National FFA Band director Spencer white. Carrie Carl also is
an adviser to the Hastings FFA program, and White is co-director of Hastings bands.
Lillian Wierenga (second from left), a 2018 Hastings graduate and current under-
graduate research assistant at MSU, received an American FFA Degree at the nation-
al convention. She is pictured here with (from left) Nathan Meyers, Louis Wierenga
and Mary Wierenga.