Thanksgiving in Brainerd, Minnesota |
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Thursday, November 27, 2025:
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The Brainerd VFW is closed every Thanksgiving Day so families can be together. |
Chaplain Rios
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Blessing: Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day ….We bow our hearts to You and pray….. We give You thanks for all You've done, especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son. For beauty in nature, Your glory we see ……For joy and health, friends and family, For daily provision, Your mercy and care ….These are the blessings You graciously share. ….so today we offer this response of praise ….with a promise to follow You all of our days. Thank you, Lord, for my friend and friends…. Bless families and our days to honor you God. May we remember to be a light the guides those around us to your promises and love. In Your Holy Name…. Amen!!!! Chaplain Rios.
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November 27, 2025, 8 am: Thanksgiving meal preparation was in full swing at the Brainerd Legion. It's a Brainerd area tradition by the Brainerd American Legion, the Brainerd Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Brainerd Elks Lodge and the Brainerd Eagles, making 1500 meals to be given away free on Thanksgiving. Donations were accepted. VFW Commander Kevin Jensen participated, along with other VFW members. Key players making the event run were Herman Wisneski and Janelle Lacy. Police and Fire departments delivered meals from 9 to 10:30 am. Some of the photos here were from delivery of meals to Mississippi Terrace via a Brainerd fire truck driven by Crow Wing County Veteran Service Officer Erik Flowers. Drive by meal pickup was from 11 am to 1 pm. It was another successful Thanksgiving for the community.
About 50 volunteers for this community event. Some were still inside preparing food.
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And the dinners just kept coming from the Legion to awaiting vehicles for local delivery. |
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November 26, 2025...The Day before Thanksgiving. Volunteers were busy putting together the items that can be cold stored overnight. That included bread, salad, cranberries and pumpkin pie. They are added to hot turkey and fixings on Thanksgiving.
November 28, 2024: Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers were busy putting hot turkey meals together at the American Legion. Then they were taken to fire department and law enforcement vehicles for delivery to area homes. Volunteers used their cars also for deliveries.
Group photo of volunteers that day.
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And the boxes of food just kept coming out the door. |
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(l-r) Michelle Tomiha, at Oak Crest Manor II Apartments in south Brainerd, accepted a food delivery from volunteers Meredith, Madie and Max Holmstrom and Brainerd Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Holmstrom.
Then at 10 am, there was a drive through for individuals to pick up turkey dinners. In all, about 1500 meals, with dessert, were provided at no charge to local folks. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 27, 2024: Preparation for Thanksgiving at the Brainerd Legion. Volunteers were busy making salads, rolls, cranberries along with pumpkin and pecan pies. They did this in advance of preparing turkey dinners on Thanksgiving morning.
