By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
Hungry diners are counting down the hours to this Saturday’s annual Yukon community feed.
The 66th Annual Ground Hog Dinner will be served “family style” from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 28 at the First United Methodist Church-Yukon, 400 Elm.
Presented by the Methodist Men’s Group, this epic feast raises funds for church missions and community service projects.
“This is not just a church event, it’s community wide,” said coordinator Russell Kline. “We have people come from across the metro area and other parts of the state.”
The popular Ground Hog Dinner menu remains the same since its inception: Czech-style sauerkraut and ribs, new potatoes, biscuits and gravy, sausage patties, and apple butter; with tea, coffee and water to wash it all down.
Yukon Kids First children sell desserts and soft drinks.
“This is an all-church participation event,” Kline added. “We have about 125 church members and friends who volunteer.”
Volunteer duties include:
- Selling and buying meal tickets
- Receiving and preparing/cooking all the food.
- Setting up the Christian Life Center for the dinner.
- Serving an average of 1,250 guests, then restoring all areas for Sunday morning services.
“We have about 16 crews who serve our guests,” Kline noted.
Average quantities of food prepared for the Yukon Ground Hog Dinner at FUMC-Yukon are:
- 400 pounds of pork ribs
- 800 pounds of pork sausage patties
- 108 gallons of sauerkraut
- 96 gallons of whole white potatoes
- 50 gallons of sausage milk gravy
- 3,200 frozen biscuits
- 12 gallons of apple butter
- 50 gallons of coffee
- 40 gallons of iced tea
A GREAT CAUSE
Besides filling stomachs with warm comfort food on a winter day, the Methodist Men’s Group will use Saturday’s annual Ground Hog Dinner to support non-profits.
They contribute about $9,000 annually to organizations like Manna Pantry, Compassionate Hands, Yukon Sharing, Yukon Project Graduation, and Exodus House OKC – Apt 9. Funds also benefit mission trips and a wheelchair ramp project.
Ground Hog Dinner advance tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children (12 years and under); $15 for adults at the door.
Groups of six or more are asked to call and make reservations to help with seating.
For tickets or more information, call (405) 354-8858 or (405) 740-3551.
