ROMP holds annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Dunnstown Fire Hall
LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Mentors, mentees and volunteers gather for a group photo at the annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Dunnstown Fire Hall.
LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Many turkeys were divided and carved by mentors and mentees.
LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Mentors and mentees, as well as community volunteers, participated in cooking side dishes and preparing thoughtful crafts.
LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Mentors and mentees, as well as community volunteers, participated in cooking side dishes and preparing thoughtful crafts.
LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS A mentor and mentee duo prepare to make a turkey craft out of a pot and some leaves.
LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Mentors, mentees and volunteers gather for a group photo at the annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Dunnstown Fire Hall.
LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Many turkeys were divided and carved by mentors and mentees.
LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Mentors and mentees, as well as community volunteers, participated in cooking side dishes and preparing thoughtful crafts.
LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Mentors and mentees, as well as community volunteers, participated in cooking side dishes and preparing thoughtful crafts.
LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS A mentor and mentee duo prepare to make a turkey craft out of a pot and some leaves.
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DUNNSTOWN -- November means Thanksgiving, and for members of the Reach Out Mentor Program, another annual tradition.
Mentors, mentees and a hoard of volunteers spent a recent Saturday at the Dunnstown Fire Hall preparing turkey and all the fixings. Kids who take part in ROMP invite their families to enjoy the meal they've cooked up.
The program has been in place since 2010, with only a few missed years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Martie Buck, ROMP coordinator.
ROMP -- formerly Big Brother, Big Sister -- is a community based program that provides young people in need of additional support and friendship with a mentor and positive role model.
These bonds were on display as over a dozen kids were hard at work preparing a meal for their families on Saturday morning.
From separating the turkey into dark meat and light meat, stirring together various side dishes, cleaning up pots and pans or even making crafts to decorate the tables, the kids and their mentors kept busy until the meal in the afternoon.
This year saw a slight change in tradition, with the loss of volunteer Hope Mitchell.
"She used to prep all of the turkeys and cook for the meal each year. She was missed this year in a lot of ways," Buck said.
In all, the youngsters fed almost 100 people at the fire hall over the weekend.
Buck noted ROMP is still in need of mentors for the dozens of kids signed up.
"We are in need of mentors in our program to be matched with individuals. We have 50 youth and only 11 of those 50 are matched," she said.
Those interested in taking part in the program may call 570-748-2585, email romp@clintoncountypa.gov or reach out via Facebook at Reach Out Mentoring.
Buck also thanked everyone who made the dinner a success that included:
-- The Dunnstown Fire Hall for opening up the space. Buck also thanked fire company president Mike Fetzer for his help in coordinating the dinner and Halloween meal held at the hall.
-- Angela Snyder for her help with cooking and guiding the cooking process.
-- Bailey Campbell Boyer, ROMP intern, who helped put the dinner, crafts and donations together.
-- Alan Sementelli of Keep Safe Transportation Services for his donation of turkeys and Beth Baker for her donation of a turkey.
-- Pearl's Cafe for donation of cupcakes.
-- Weis Markets of Lock Haven and Mill Hall for their donation of gift cards to the program.
-- The Clinton County Commissioners and CYS Advisory Board for their continued support.
-- All the volunteers and mentors who help every event to make this possible throughout the weeks for the youth of Clinton County. Volunteers who helped to make it happen this year:
Candy Packer, Leigh Young, Matt Buck, Sydney Arrigale, Angela Snyder, Beth Baker, Marian Conn, Jim Graves, Madalyn Smith, Jacob Snook, Bailey Boyer, Co-Coordinator Raven McCloskey and Buck and Darcy Swinehart for helping with donations.
-- The mentees for table decorations and preparing the meal.