‘Sharing your blessings’

Hundreds gathered at the Carson City Nugget Casino Thursday to celebrate the holiday with the annual Thanksgiving Feast.

The Nugget hosted its 59th feast for local residents to come and enjoy a free hot turkey lunch.

“It is great,” said Nugget Chief Executive Officer Dean DiLullo. “It’s the 59th year and we are so proud to be part of it.”

Nearly 100 volunteers came out Thursday afternoon to help serve up hundreds of pounds of potatoes, vegetables and turkey.

“I like to (volunteer to) meet all the people and say ‘Happy Thanksgiving,’” said Jenny Scanland. Scanland volunteered with Grace Works, a network of churches who get together to serve the community.

Several public figures also were there to help out, including Mayor Bob Crowell, Sheriff Ken Furlong and several Board of Supervisor members. But, volunteering wasn’t just for the adults, several children spent their morning helping pass out drinks and clear tables to give back. Thirteen year old Lauryn Griffin and her family spent Thursday at the Nugget to help their fellow community members for the second year.

“I like to see the people with their families and get together for the Thanksgiving feast,” Lauryn said. “It’s fun to do.”

“They really enjoy doing it, they just love doing the serving,” added Lauryn’s mother Stacie. “This what Thanksgiving is about, sharing your blessings.”

A lot of work goes into preparing the feast for the community. Nugget Executive Chef David Sellars and his staff spent three days preparing for Thursday’s feast and were up at 3 a.m., to start putting out the food for the attendees.

But, through it all, the feast went smoothly and everyone spent Thursday happy and full.

“It is awesome that they do this,” said Victoria Durnbaugh.

The Nugget ballroom was brimming with people enjoying their family, friends, community members and a plate of Thanksgiving goodies.

“It is a great thing from the point of a veteran because we appreciate that there are lots of brothers helping serve us,” said Dallas, who declined to give his last name, referring to the volunteers helping. “It is a beautiful thing....All that makes me happy is to have food and watch football and as long as I have that, it will be a good Thanksgiving.”