DULUTH, MN - The 16th annual Twin Ports Thanksgiving Buffet, sponsored by The College of St. Scholastica and the Twin Ports community, will be offered from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 24, at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC). Turkey dinner with all the trimmings is provided free of charge to about 2,000 people in need and those who might otherwise be alone on the holiday.

Volunteers are still needed; they may sign up at www.css.edu/thanksgiving or by calling the volunteer phone line at 723-6774.

This year's Buffet has two new features: The addition of a full schedule of entertainment for Buffet patrons, and the expansion of the home-delivered meals program.

"This year we decided we wanted to do more than a meal," said Gail Hanson, coordinator of the Buffet for St. Scholastica. "We wanted to offer a special day filled with fun."

The full slate of entertainment was put together by Mayor Herb Bergson and the City of Duluth.

"This dinner is sacred to me, and I know it is for the other volunteers, too," said Bergson, who will clear tables during the Buffet, as he has for many years. "This makes my Thanksgiving, it really does. I always leave with a smile on my face."

Free entertainment for Buffet attendees will include music, comedy and dance throughout the day. Performers so far include Renegade Comedy Theatre, the Asian Lion Dance Team and Fever Dog, the band from Lifehouse. There also will be numerous performances from local musicians - and a special visit from Santa Claus, with gifts for the children. The City of Duluth has arranged for free admission to the Great Lakes Aquarium for Buffet attendees, with a free shuttle.

Many community groups contribute to the dinner's success. About 500 volunteers come from throughout the Twin Ports community and include individuals and groups from churches and civic organizations, schools and businesses. Many businesses contribute funds to help subsidize the cost of food and supplies. Guiding the effort for contributions is senior chair of this year's Buffet, Cathy Kates of Clear Channel Radio. St. Scholastica provides volunteers and raises money to buy food through a competition and a raffle among its students, faculty and staff.

Thanksgiving Buffet facts from Jack Teske, Food Service operations manager at St. Scholastica, who has been in charge of preparing the Buffet since 1998:

• 1,246 pounds of roasted turkey (not formed or pressed meat)
• 1,000 pounds of potatoes (peeled by hand, boiled and mashed)
• 15 cases of canned yams
• 3,000 dinner rolls
• 200 loaves of bread to make the dressing
• Gravy - "We use the turkey drippings to make the gravy," Teske says. "The pot is just huge - you could take a bath in it."
• Appetizers: Cocktail wieners and barbecue meatballs.
• Salads: The Buffet is cutting down on salads (too much was being thrown out), but there will be fruit salads and the like.
• Five schools are making table decorations; for more information contact Tracy Clanaugh at the YMCA, 722-4745, ext. 110.

The Duluth Transit Authority again will offer free transportation to and from the Buffet. Continuous bus transportation will be available throughout the day from 24th Avenue East to Fifth Avenue West. The following locations are pickup sites for DTA buses:

In Duluth: Damiano Center, CHUM Drop-In Center, YWCA, Tri-Towers Apartments and Morgan Park.

In Superior: Peter Rich Center, Royalton Manor, Clifford Lund Apartments, Solid Rock Mission, 14th and Tower, and Phoenix Villa.

For a complete schedule of the shuttle buses, call the DTA at 722-4426.

Buffet organizers are ready to prepare and deliver 1,000 meals to individuals who are homebound. The home-delivered meals are in addition to the 2,000 meals at the DECC.

"This year we have the capacity to bring more food to the less fortunate and triple the number of home-delivered meals to 1,000," said Teske. "But we have to get the word out to people so they can call and request home delivery."

Persons interested in requesting home-delivered meals should call 723-6484 by Friday, Nov. 18.

Volunteer drivers, who use their own vehicles, are ready. Off-duty paramedics and managers from Gold Cross Ambulance again will deliver meals. Eight Gold Cross employees have been volunteering since 1995 and 10 new volunteers have come on board this year, said Lisa Vogel, administrative/education assistant at Gold Cross.

Also new this year are volunteers from the 148th Fighter Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard. About 20 Airmen will be delivering meals, said Capt. Chris Cloutier, community manager for the 148th.

They arrive at the DECC on Thanksgiving morning and load up to 40 meals each. One meal consists of three packs: a turkey/potatoes/veggie pack for reheating; a cold pack with salad, desserts and a roll; and a pack just for pie.

"It's nice because we see a lot of these (homebound) people year after year. They're very grateful and happy to see us come, and we're happy to do it," Vogel said. "A lot of us bring our kids, so the whole family gets involved. It's a learning experience for our kids, who see how other people really live and how some just don't have any family. It really makes our Thanksgiving meaningful.