What was that delicious aroma wafting from the American Lutheran Church’s kitchen, you ask? It was the AWC Oslo’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, and it was a delicious feast, indeed! There were festive, pumpkin- clad tables for the 60 members and guests to enjoy the wonderful meal. Although this meeting was about conversation and good food, it was also about supporting a good cause. For many decades, the Thanksgiving luncheon has also been a fundraiser and though the cause the club supports may have changed during the years, the support of our members has not. This year, as in the past few years, the AWC Oslo Thanksgiving fundraising efforts go to the Oslo Crisis Center.
Before the meeting started, members were able to get in some holiday shopping at the vendor booths that were set up for this meeting. There was jewelry and crafts galore to be bought with 10% of sales going to support the Oslo Crisis Center.
For the past few years, MatPrat, the Norwegian Meat Marketing Board, has generously donated the turkeys for the luncheon, giving the club the chance to earmark part of the luncheon fee to our fundraiser. Betsy Bruns, our club’s caterer, prepared all of the Thanksgiving staples, including succulent turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, stuffing, homemade rolls, gravy, and the crowd favorite, pumpkin pie! Everyone satisfied themselves to true Thanksgiving proportions, and chatted about their own Thanksgiving traditions and memories.
Also included in the revenue raised, was an especially spirited raffle. With donated prizes from the vendors present, and a deluxe prize of a NOK 600 gift certificate donated by a local American café, Café Fedora, the Club was able to raise NOK 3015! Bringing the total proceeds benefitting the Crisis Center to NOK 8510 (approximately $1420.) This also included the generous donation of the excess ticket money from those members who attended the Young at Heart concert. A truly fantastic result!
With all of the members full, and the holiday season officially opened, the ladies of the AWC Oslo left the luncheon with substantially lighter wallets, but praising our caterer’s food. It must be said that all the guests left in a pretty good mood for helping to continue the Thanksgiving tradition of raising money for a good cause!
-- FAWCO Rep Kristin D. Haanæs, AWC Oslo