DINNER: DONATIONS FOR HOLIDAY FALL BEHIND

Donations to the Salvation Army's annual Thanksgiving Day dinner are coming in slowly this year, but Capt. Elmer Trapp is confident things will pick up as the day approaches.

"If they don't pick up we're going to be in trouble," Trapp, corps officer of the Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau, said.

Especially needed now are hams, turkeys, rolls and cranberry sauce.

The Salvation Army plans to roast about 25 turkeys and bake 10 hams for the occasion. Also on the menu will be sweet and mashed potatoes, green beans and corn, salad, pies and cakes.

In the tradition of the event, the Salvation Army serves "what people bring us," Trapp said. "And on Thanksgiving, this community smiles like you wouldn't believe."

The Salvation Army annually provides free Thanksgiving Day meals to about 500 people. Half of those are served at the corps headquarters at 701 Good Home. The other half are delivered to people in their homes.

Trapp said the meals are "for anybody. That's the only criteria. You come, you sit down and we will serve you."

Serving times are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be no football games on the TV and no entertainment. Trapp said many people use the occasion to socialize.

"This... is becoming a real community event," he said. "It meets the needs of people who want to get involved."

Certainly, the meal is a Godsend for those who otherwise would not be able to afford such a Thanksgiving feast.

Others who are alone come because they want to spend the holiday with other people. For many seniors, Trapp said, it's an annual opportunity to visit and talk about Thanksgivings past.

"Many people come at 11 and don't leave until 2 o'clock," Trapp said.

Right now, volunteers are more plentiful than turkeys. Thirty-five are signed up, and he expects another 40 will show up on Thanksgiving day.

"People like to volunteer for this," Trapp said.

Volunteers will use their own vehicles to deliver a free Thanksgiving dinner to anyone who wants one. All it takes is a call to the Salvation Army at 335-7000, even on Thanksgiving Day.

Trapp said one woman who'd planned to have a meal delivered called to cancel because she'd been invited to someone's home for Thanksgiving.

"It's the one holiday when people think about other people," Trapp said.

Donations of money can be sent to the Salvation Army at P.O. Box 802, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.