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Local leaders, residents will miss Beerman Thanksgiving dinner

William S. Weprin, president of The Beerman Foundation, said Thursday, Sept. 10, that the foundation will no longer host its annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner and will focus on programs that are beneficial year-around.

Ron Alvey/Staff William S. Weprin, president of The Beerman Foundation, said Thursday, Sept. 10, that the foundation will no longer host its annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner and will focus on programs that are beneficial year-around.

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By Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer Updated 11:28 PM Thursday, September 10, 2009

DAYTON — The Beerman Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner was more than a meal for many Dayton-area residents.

For Miyo Fields, 76, of Dayton, the dinner provided fellowship with her widowed friends for the past five years since her own husband died.

“We don’t want to cook or anything. All the kids are grown up. We are more or less by ourselves,” she said.

She is sorry to hear The Beerman Foundation will no longer host the dinner.

“I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed,” she said.

William S. Weprin, president of the foundation, said Thursday, Sept. 10, that the foundation directors decided to focus on programs that are beneficial year-around.

“It’s been a wonderful Dayton tradition for years and it’s meant a lot for a lot of people. I think we’re all going to miss it,” said state Rep. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering. “I’m sure the motivation of The Beerman Foundation is to do the most with the resources they have.”

Montgomery County Administrator Deborah Feldman said the dinner “brought the community together.”

“At a time when people are so busy with their own lives, Thanksgiving dinner is something bigger, and the dinner really symbolized that in our community,” Feldman said. “Many people who didn’t necessarily have financial need, but who were alone came for the dinner.”

Other community leaders said they are thankful to the foundation for its dedication to the Dayton area.

“Although it is sad to see that this dinner will be discontinued, we have to be thankful that The Beerman Foundation will continue to help those in need, especially where the need is greatest,” said Franz Hoge, former chairman of the Montgomery County Human Services Levy Council and a longtime community volunteer.

“I’m certain that The Beerman Foundation was confronted with the same reality that confronts the human services levy fund. That is that the need is so much greater than the amount of funds that are available,” he said.

Hoge hopes other organizations will help provide a Thanksgiving meal in place of the Beerman dinner.

“This is a time that we all need to step up and help fill that void,” said state Rep. Clayton Luckie, D-Dayton. “Maybe we all can donate a turkey, do something to help out during that holiday time.”

Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, said hunger programs have been hard hit by state budget cuts and the need is very acute in the Dayton area. He understands why the foundation is re-prioritizing its funds.

“While it is always a sad thing to watch a community tradition come to an end, we also need to make sure we are looking after people the other 364 days a year,” Husted said.

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