Since Peter Thomas, director of advancement for Bishop Hendricken, came to the school in 2007, he has wanted to host a community Thanksgiving dinner for the less fortunate of Warwick. This year his dream is finally being realized.

Once Thomas got the “go ahead” from the Board and school President John Jackson, he reached out to Mayor Scott Avedisian, who directed him not only with local agencies for referrals, but also the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) so families will have transportation to and from Hendricken on Thanksgiving.

Avedisian said, “The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority is excited to assist with the single biggest obstacle to getting people to the event – transportation. Working cooperatively with the Warwick Housing Authority, the Rhode Island Family Shelter, Crossroads, and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, RIPTA will move people to and from Hendricken on Thanksgiving Day.”

Thomas contacted several churches throughout Warwick, the House of Hope, the Warwick Housing Authority, Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center, the Boys & Girls Club as well as the Mentoring Partnership, the Family Shelter, and the Pilgrim Senior Center to find families that would be interested in the dinner.

Thomas said, “We wanted this to be specific for Warwick and the families in need within our own community. We have service trips all over the world, but as an institution we want to give back to our local community, too.”

Currently, 60 individuals have confirmed for the dinner with the cafeteria having space for 250 people.

“We have had some good responses, but we are still waiting to hear from a few families,” Thomas said. “We encourage anyone in need to reach out for the dinner. Even if they’re just lonely and don’t want to spend the day alone.”

Despite being the first year, the list to recruit volunteers filled up quickly, with the school actually having to limit volunteers.

Fifty volunteers made up of students, parents, alumni, and teachers, nearly a “one to one” situation with the current attendees, will help out for the community Thanksgiving dinner.

Jackson said the Thanksgiving dinner was a “natural projection” of the school’s mission.

“This is our mission. We consider ourselves a Christian Brothers school and one element of that is standing in solidarity with the poor and marginalized,” Jackson said. “We are blessed here and have so much. For us, this is a small effort we can make to do a lot of good for that population where Thanksgiving may be just like any other day. We can help to make that special for them.”

Through a partnership with Jay Moulton and his company World Dining, the event will come at no cost to Hendricken, with all of the traditional Thanksgiving fare donated.

Moulton said his company has budgeted $1,400 for the purchase of turkeys, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie.

“When they came to me I thought it was fantastic, especially because they are trying to target families,” Moulton said. “We thought it was awesome and were on board from the beginning.

Everyone has really stepped up for this.”

Hendricken has also partnered with Ocean State Job Lot, which has donated socks, gloves and hats that will be distributed to all of the guests.

“This truly is a partnership,” Thomas said. “One we envision continuing. Maybe one day we will be opening this up to 500 people on one day and we will be ready for it.”

Thomas also wanted to make sure the community dinner happened on Thanksgiving, because individual celebrations shouldn’t be a “barrier” to helping those in need.

“Thanksgiving may be a day for family, but first it’s a day to be thankful for what you have. What better way to do that than pass some of that on?”

He said the volunteers would have a better Thanksgiving for volunteering.

“It is a very exciting initiative to feed needy families directly on Thanksgiving Day,” said Avedisian, who will be at the community dinner. “It will be an exciting time for the community, and I thank the Bishop Hendricken community for thinking behind their own needs to help others.”

Thomas said, “Even if we only help one family, we have done our job. We have answered our mission.”

Hendricken’s first community Thanksgiving dinner will be on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26 from 12 to 2 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria. If you or someone you know would like to attend the event, contact Thomas at 738-6971 or his email, pthomas@hendricken.com.

The school does need to have a final head count a week prior to the event, so those looking to attend should contact Thomas before Nov. 19.