Photo by Deb Gau Volunteers at Grace First Parish formed an assembly line to fill takeout boxes with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and corn on Tuesday evening. The Election Day turkey supper is a tradition going back more than 125 years in Russell. This year, the event was carry-out only, as a COVID precaution to avoid crowding
RUSSELL — Election Day is usually a time for people to head to their local polling places, but in Russell the date has an extra meaning.
By late Tuesday afternoon, there was a line forming at Grace First Parish for the return of its annual Election Day supper. Downstairs by the church kitchen, an assembly line of volunteers was hard at work. Servers filled takeout boxes with turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, ready for the customers upstairs.
“The food is delicious,” said Tyler resident Phyllis Rosen.
Rosen was one of the first few people waiting at the church to pick up their orders — although going by ticket numbers, there were already around 30 people ahead of her, she said.
The takeout line was something new, but the meal was a return to a long-standing tradition in Russell. After a year off because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 125th annual Election Day supper was held at Grace First on Tuesday.
“This year we are having it carry-out only,” as an extra precaution, said Diane Gravely.
Organizers said the event was originally started by Presbyterian church members in Russell as a way to gather on a day when people would be coming into town to visit the polls. Now, Grace First Parish members organize the annual suppers.
“It rewards people for coming out to vote,” said Beth Erdmann, who was helping coordinate the serving on Tuesday.
The Election Day supper tradition has also carried on every year, whether there’s an election happening in Russell or not.
This year, customers were lining up at the church, chatting or sitting in the pews while they waited for their order number to be called.
Some browsed the “country store” table with baked goods and other items for sale. Through it all, volunteers were busy filling orders, slicing pies and keeping up a supply of cranberry dressing and coleslaw.
The workers were a mix of adults and youth. Micah Garbe was helping to fill containers of coleslaw for supper orders.
Garbe said he had volunteered to help with the supper.
“I just kind of like to do stuff like this,” he said.
Erdmann said it was fun to get together with the volunteers.
“You sometimes get to work with people you don’t get to see as often,” she said.
Gravley said preparation for the supper started on Monday afternoon and continued through Tuesday. Organizers weren’t sure how big of a crowd to expect this year, but Gravley said in past years they have had 300 people or more.
“Normally it’s really busy,” said Shallyn Dybdahl, one of the volunteers filling supper orders.
There was definitely a strong showing of people waiting for the supper to start. At a few minutes before 5 p.m., there were already about 25 people in line to pick up orders. Some came prepared — John Ross brought a cardboard box to help carry the takeout containers.
The Election Day meal was known for good food, even outside Russell, Ross said.
“A lot of people come from around the area, too,” he said.
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