Why We Do This

Mike Sheridan and Kellen Leef started this Community Thanksgiving Dinner in 2015, when they had a brick-and-mortar restaurant, simply by crossing their fingers and  throwing open the doors, Inviting anyone and everyone to come and eat.  No paperwork.  No ID's.  No proof of income.  No charge.   They did it in honor of Kellen's father, the late Rev. Sterling Morgan, with the simple idea that a lot of people are alone during the holidays, and just unable to cook or enjoy the holiday by themselves.  They wanted to feed people, sure.  But their main concern was alleviating the lonliness that so many people experience during the holiday.

 They were pleasantly surprised when people started showing up with donations of food, and offers to volunteer and help out.  That was when they realized that they weren't alone in the endeavor.  The first year, they and the volunteers served about 100 people altogether, rotating through their little 46-seat dining room.

Later, after closing the restaurant, they approached the State Fair of West Virginia for the use of space on the fairgrounds.  The Fair People readily agreed, and the Blue Ribbon Center became the venue for the event.  It grew every year, not only in number of diners, but in volunteers and material donations as well.  In 2022, we served 573 people, both in the dining room, and by carry-out or delivery.  We had lots of help, but nearly ran out of food.  We expected that the need would be even greater in 2023, so we made arrangements to move the event to the Cecil Underwood Building on the Fairgrounds campus, roughly tripling the amount of space.  Then, in 2024, we moved to a cavernous space in the West Virginia Building, where the 2025 event will also be held.

Let's Be Frank

Mike and Kellen are just regular people. There is no way we could pull this thing off by ourselves.  We absolutely rely on members of the community to show up and do the work, from peeling potatoes to waiting tables.  We rely on local individuals and businesses for donations of food and supplies.  And, we also welcome cash contributions, which can readily be converted to food.  We ask for no payment whatsoever from those we serve, but we do put out a tip jar in case somebody wants to throw some money in it.

Every year, we start at zero.  If there is any food leftover, we donate it to a local food bank;  we give any prepared food to the Family Refuge Center or the Senior Center.  If there is any cash left after we pay the bills, we have always given it to Penny Pitch.  In 2025, because of the demise of Penny Pitch, we'll donate any leftover money to our Dinner Every Day project, which divides the funds evenly between the ten food pantries in Greenbrier County.  So, we end at zero too.

We hope that you will  be a part of this community event.  Volunteer some time, or send a donation if you can.  Whether or not, we cordially invite you to bring your family and enjoy some good food and fellowship with us on Thanksgiving Day.

Click Here for All About Volunteering

How to Donate

Please scroll down for our "wish list" of foods and supplies needed.  We try to keep the list updated as pledges and donations come in, so please check back often.  Donations can be dropped off at Swift Level Fine Meats, across from the Fairgrounds on the Southbound Side, during their normal business hours.  

You may also drop off money and non-perishable items at Creative Kitchens, US 219 North in the shopping center behind Ruby Tuesday.

Please drop off during normal business hours, Monday through Wednesday, now through November 26.

We are also happy to take money.  We prefer cash or checks, so that 100% of the money donated can go directly to the dinner, instead of the bank or the credit card company.  Please make checks payable to "When Pigs Fly" and take them to one of the dropoff locations, or mail them to Kellen's Kitchen Catering, Post Office Box 204, Maxwelton, West Virginia, 24957.  Please don't send cash through the mail.

If you prefer to donate using a credit or debit card, please click the button below and work through the screens.  Our payments are processed by Stripe.