This spring, I connected by chance with a man showing his friends around the streets of Kings Beach — Rusty Goe, a retired U.S. Air Force sergeant who once lived, owned a business, and rose up as a real asset in our community in the 1970s and ’80s. His story sheds light on the origins of a time-honored, popular tradition we’ll celebrate again this November: the Tahoe Community Thanksgiving
Before he left town to serve our country, Rusty dealt with various forms of addiction, followed by the hard work of recovery. This struggle woke something inside him: a desire to help others through example. Challengetime Ministries was born, aiding our community in many ways, including hosting Lake Tahoe’s first community Thanksgiving. To my delight, Rusty later shared with me a scrapbook of his ministry from the 1950s to 1980s that included a full-page North LakeTahoe Bonanza ad, announcing a community feast at the Kings Beach First Baptist Church: “Free Thanksgiving dinner for those who don’t have family in the area and those who wouldn’t otherwise have a Thanksgiving dinner.”
Over time, Rusty moved away, the First Baptist Church relocated to Tahoe City, and the Challengetime Ministry was no more. Yet it is often said that a ministry or service organization is not owned by a single person or by its board, but rather by its mission. If a need exists, the mission will continue. We see this truth in the foundation set by Rusty and his ministry. After more than 50 years, the ministry’s vision is still part of our community.
How did the tradition of a free, festive Thanksgiving celebration carry on? In the late 2000s, community activist Meera Beser and Cornerstone Church in Incline Village saw the continuing need to feed and nurture togetherness among us and took up the mission. Now, as then, the event’s model is not charity. In the spirit of generosity and gratitude, this communal feast creates a rare gathering, uniting locals and visitors; those with plenty and those with little; young and old; family groups, couples, and solo community members; and people of all backgrounds who give, cook, and celebrate together.
Over a 15-year span, with Meera’s guidance and Cornerstone’s generosity, Tahoe Community Thanksgiving grew and flourished. Its success went far beyond good food. It established interfaith cooperation while coordinating local businesses, charitable and faith-based organizations, and community members to work toward a common goal. In the words of Kings Beach resident Tiffany Curd, “I’m really glad there is somewhere that people can go and enjoy the community we all live in, especially those who need it the most. It was one of the first events I went to when I moved to the area in 2011, and I have been almost every year since then.”
Recently, health concerns forced Meera to take a less demanding role in organizing and producing Tahoe Community Thanksgiving. Fortunately, Deborah Hakam, the event’s longtime primary cook and kitchen lead, has stepped up as its coordinator.
You’ll see her grand vision and our community’s spirit when you arrive at the North Tahoe Event Center on Thanksgiving Day. The sight of a festively decorated room, with hints of imagination and whimsy added by our local schoolchildren, will make you smile. As you wander about, the music and words of gratitude by the multi-talented folk musician, Colleen Akiko, will serenade you. And the smells of a lovingly prepared home-cooked meal will entice and tease your tastebuds. As you settle in to eat and enjoy the company at your table, you’ll feel, above all, the sense of belonging and connection that transcends all our differences.
Even the foods offered reflect a new level of togetherness. This year, the traditional Thanksgiving menu will be expanded to include a popular trial item from 2023. Eddie Villanueva has offered to lead a team making 150 chicken and 150 cheese tamales, with ingredients donated by Alejandro Brambila, owner of Las Panchitas.
Of course, like every large family occasion, this annual event takes lots of effort and often has some backstage drama. The year 2023 was no exception. Tahoe Community Thanksgiving runs solely on donations and volunteers, and two weeks before the event, it seemed as though we didn’t have enough turkeys and other items to feed the expected 500-plus guests. A call to action went out to the community via social media platforms. Immediately, responses started coming in. Among those angels was Bob Habeger, owner of Tahoe Central Market and Produce Plus. He offered to donate the needed turkeys and a large portion of produce in honor of his dear friend and cherished community member, Mike McNulty. Over his lifetime, Mike was instrumental in guiding teens and adults of all ages who suffered from addiction toward a sustainable, healthy life journey.
The abundance of last-minute donations was truly needed due to the increase in attendance — a whopping 32%! In addition to the 400 served in the dining room, more than 300 meals were prepared and delivered before the doors opened to Sierra Senior Services and the North Tahoe-Truckee Homeless Services day center, first responders, TART employees, and individual homes in Truckee and across the North and West shores. Now, as in Rusty’s day, we aim to feed all, regardless of need.
Help us keep this mission going with your presence and your support. If you’d like to make a monetary donation, we’ll have a collection box at the front door (checks can be made out to St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church with “Community Thanksgiving” in the memo line; they can also be mailed to St. Patrick’s, 341 Village Blvd., Incline Village NV 89451). All donations are tax deductible and will be acknowledged with a receipt. If you’d like to volunteer or donate food and/or non-food items, please contact Deborah Hakam at (916) 764-6488 (text or call) or email her at debaura2000@yahoo.com.
She makes you this promise: “It’s heartwarming to behold a room filled with laughter, chatter, and folks enjoying each other and their meal together.” Rusty would agree.
Tahoe Community Thanksgiving will take place on Nov. 28 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach.
~ Michelle Okashima is a graduate of Sierra Nevada College with degrees in biology and humanities. She has contributed to newspaper articles and collaborated on and co-authored scientific papers in psychology. For the past 20 years, she has volunteered for humanitarian and animal welfare organizations, and currently sits on the board of Tahoe Neighborhood Table.
