With Thanksgiving just around the corner, businesses and organizations within the Yelm community are offering different holiday events to allow the community to gather together, including sporting competitions, fundraisers and more.
Gift of Gobble —Friday, Nov. 17
Bounty for Families is hosting its annual Gift of Gobble fundraiser from 3:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the 507 Taproom and Filling Station West. A portion of every pint purchased will go toward feeding 100 families this Thanksgiving from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, nine local churches and the Rainier School District.
Ashley Brooks, board member of Bounty for Families, said the organization is focused on cultivating a healthy community by supporting local families, providing access to nutritious food and strengthening the local economy.
For those who cannot make the event, donations can be made at https://bountyforfamilies.org/donations/gift-of-gobble-donation/?fbclid=IwAR1cms_1pONJbSpdtx6oOSFQO43m4KSuL9PmFRh2dBlXsG4IpXr4x4ruKa0.
“With a $60 donation through Friday, we can reach our goal of feeding 100 families in Yelm and surrounding areas,” Brooks said. “Many already enjoy having a cup of cheer at the local 507 Taproom and Filling Station. This Friday, a portion of the purchase will go toward that goal. Raffles including gift cards from local businesses will be called also.”
Gift of Gobble nominations are also open, with forms available at the Yelm Food Co-Op or online.
Thanksgiving Luncheon at Prestige Senior Living Rosemont — Nov. 17
Prestige Senior Living Rosemont, located 215 Killion Road SE, will host a Thanksgiving luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 17. The luncheon will include traditional Thanksgiving day food items, such as turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy and several different pies.
“It’s going to be a whole thanksgiving feast. It’s $10 per person, but 5 years old and under is free,” Kylie Woods, Rosemont community relations director, said. “We don’t exclude anyone. It’s a meal. Anyone can come in and have lunch with our residents.”
Woods added that the public is welcome to join Prestige Senior Living Rosemont on Nov. 17 for the luncheon.
Winter Clothing Drive at Prestige Senior Living Rosemont
Prestige Senior Living Rosemont is hosting a winter clothing drive at its facility in Yelm at 215 Killion Road SE. The winter clothing drive is hosted by Debra Larson, with Love Abounds Here, and will accept items such as blankets, gloves, hats, winter jackets and “everything to keep you warm,” according to Woods.
The drive will conclude on Dec. 1, where Larson will then distribute those items through the Love Abounds Here program.
Prestige Senior Living Rosemont will also host a food drive from Dec. 1 through Dec. 20, and items can be donated at its location in Yelm.
City of Yelm Turkey Bowl — Saturday, Nov. 18
The City of Yelm is set to host its first ever charity “Turkey Bowl’’ event at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18 at Longmire Park. The contest will feature an adult flag football competition with the tournament’s winner selecting a charity of their choice to donate the prize winnings.
“This came about from a group that played at the mushball tournament,” Yelm Communications and Recreation Coordinator Line Roy said in October. “They loved the opportunity to donate to a charitable cause through that fun event. They wanted to keep the fun going with another tournament. So they worked with our Parks and Rec team to create the charity flag football tournament.”
Registration is open at the City of Yelm website at https://lf.yelmwa.gov/Forms/FlagFootballApp. Email Roy at LineR@yelmwa.gov with questions.
Anytime Fitness “Turkey Trot” — Nov. 23
Anytime Fitness will host its annual Turkey Trot event on Thanksgiving morning. Participants will meet at the Yelm Community Center for check-ins at 8 a.m., while the 5-kilometer run-walk will begin at 9 a.m. There will also be a raffle for participants at 8:30 a.m. before the event begins.
A halfway point will be set up along the Yelm-Rainier-Tenino trail, which is the race course, to let participants know to turn around and to provide a water break.
Participants can arrive and run for free, but people who pre-register for $30 will receive a T-shirt and raffle ticket. To register, people should call 360-400-3880 or go into Anytime Fitness, 1304 E. Yelm Ave.
Anytime Fitness Yelm has pledged to donate funds raised from the event to the Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health System to benefit disabled or homeless veterans.
“Community is everything to us. Everything we work toward and do here is with the idea of building a strong community that helps and supports each other,” Anytime Fitness manager Dalton Sheehan said. “We started this as a way to build community and get more people active throughout all the craziness of the holiday season.”
Meals
• Different organizations around Yelm will provide hot meals around Thanksgiving. The Prairie Christian Center, located 501 NE 103rd Ave. in Yelm, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day but will offer meals to go from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25.
• The Crossroads Community Covenant Church, located 11520 Bald Hill Road SE in Yelm, will offer a sit down meal or meal to go from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
• Emanuel Lutheran Church, 206 Third St. SE, Yelm, offers a dinner and pantry every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and has been described as a staple for many in the area.
• Yelm Community Services, also known as the food bank, will be closed on Thanksgiving but will offer food distribution on Thursday, Nov. 16.
• The First Baptist Church offers its food pantry on the second and fourth Monday of every month. The pantry will be open on Nov. 27.
