Gettysburg resident Stephanie Auer sits at a long folding table at the Day’s Inn Conference Room, surrounded by multiple checklists, notepads, and flyers, jotting down messages from businesses and community residents offering contributions to her rapidly developing initiative: A free community Thanksgiving meal for families in need.

A little more than a week ago, deeply moved by the impact the current government shutdown has had on her community, Auer decided to help the best way she knew how – cooking and baking. She started to make a few meals and delivered them to some families in need, then posted a notice on her social media page, asking her followers to spread the word that she was offering full Thanksgiving meals for about a dozen folks in need.

The response she received was overwhelming. The first message was from a woman who offered a monetary donation to enable Auer to cook 20 meals. The next person offered to finance another ten meals. Then dozens of messages poured in from folks volunteering to help cook or make donations.

Soon Auer saw an opportunity to create something much larger than she initially thought – a big Thanksgiving dinner, bringing the community together. Meals for “people in need” no longer meant just financial need, but a need for human interaction, need for community. “I want people to get together as neighbors, eat together, play, talk, and leave the stress of the world outside,” Auer said.

As the news of this initiative went viral, various area businesses have come forward to offer merchandise and services. Gettysburg Days Inn is providing a large conference room for the gatherings, as well as their kitchen facilities to store the incoming donations. Across the street, Taco Trap House will provide their facilities and cooks. The Boy Scouts and Auer’s employer are allowing her to use their commercial kitchens to prepare meals. Licensed bakers have pledged baked goods. A local lawn care business is providing transportation to help pick up donations.

Other donations to date include apples from Breams Orchard; milk and chocolate milk from Adams County Dairy Promotion; corn from a local farmer; coffee and cold brew cups from Freedom Forged Coffee Company; toys from T Loft; desserts from Perkins; merchandise from Weis Market and Walmart; treat bags from Lincoln Diner; and various offers for services from small businesses in the area, including face painting, balloon twisting, massages, etc.

As of the date of our interview, Auer had secured a photographer; visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, Rumi from K-Pop, Captain America, and clergy to bless each dinner.

Many volunteers have signed up to help with preparation of meals; serving; set up and clean up; delivering to home-bound guests; decorating; and planning. Many more are needed.

Within just a few days, the project has grown from a dozen meals to what Auer estimates to be approximately 300, and the meal gatherings had to be divided into several time slots throughout the day. The overwhelming response to Auer’s call demonstrates not only the rising needs within our Gettysburg area communities, but also the emergence of a renewed community spirit and people’s willingness to step up and support their fellowmen during a time of political divisiveness and economic despair.

While we were speaking with Auer, various folks were stopping by to drop off frozen turkeys, food, and paper goods. “I still cannot believe this,” Auer tells me, overwhelmed with gratitude and amazement at the generosity of her community. Auer, an Army veteran with four kids, emphasizes that she has very few personal resources, but that all that is needed for this project is miraculously being provided throughout the planning process.

“I want neighbors to start knowing each other again, face to face community gatherings, the way it used to be,” says Auer. “Growing up, we used to know everyone in the community. Today, I can’t even tell you my neighbors’ names.”

One Week. One Person. 300 Free Meals.

The Thanksgiving Dinner will take place on November 26th, 2025, at the Days Inn in Gettysburg, PA, located at 865 York Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

At this point, three buffet-style, seated dinner time slots are offered: 11 AM-1 PM, 2 PM-4 PM, and 5 PM-7 PM. An additional time slot (or perhaps even another date) may be added, as needed.

Free meals consisting of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and butter, and dessert, can be served dine-in; picked up to-go; or delivered.

A sign-up sheet to reserve a time spot for meals; to volunteer; or to make food donations is available here: https://www.signupgenius.com/Thanksgiving