Whidbey Island communities turn into one big family Thanksgiving day, sharing the cooking duties and the dish washing equally.

This year, the Fil-Am Association begins the Thanksgiving season with a dinner tonight at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

As many on island already know, it’s never too early to be thinking turkey and stuffing and everything it takes to make one spectacular Thanksgiving meal.

The organizers of the Oak Harbor Community Harvest Celebration on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, have had turkey on their minds for months.

The Elks Lodge will be packed next Thursday as the food is served 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last year’s event served over 4,000 meals at the Elks and more than 250 were delivered. If you can’t make it to the Elks but would still enjoy a Thanksgiving meal, call 675-7111 on Thanksgiving day or the Community Harvest Celebration hotline at 679-2425 and leave your name and telephone number so the delivery coordinator can reach you.

Organizers have put out the call for volunteers and can always use a little more help to assure the day runs smoothly. People can help serve food, set the tables, clear the tables, clean dishes, refresh dishes or one of the multitude of tasks that helps ensure everyone can have an enjoyable feast together.

Volunteer coordinator K.C. Pohtilla regularly attends the Oak Harbor feast with her family and even the kids help out.

“Oh yeah, they’re setting tables, clearing tables and helping out where they can,” Pohtilla said. “Then of course we all enjoy a really great meal. It’s just fun.”

Organizations from around the town chip in to make the dinner at the Elks one class act in memory of long-time organizer Keith Bartlett who passed away a few years back but whose legacy lives on at the community feast.

If you want to visit a smaller affair, Thanksgiving dinner will be served at Whitehead-Muzzall VFW Post 7392 from 1 to 4 p.m. Thanksgiving day. Members of the community, VFW members and their guests are invited to the Thanksgiving meal.

This will be the eighth year that Coupeville residents have sat down for a Thanksgiving feast together. This year a traditional buffet style spread will be served noon to 2:30 p.m. until the food runs out. But don’t expect the food to run out any time soon.

The Coupeville Thanksgiving will stretch the full length of the Recreation Hall at Alexander and Coveland. People are invited to come, bring a dish if you like and circle around one of the surrounding tables for some old-fashioned gathering and giving of thanks.

Kathy Griggs, who has attended the Thanksgiving feast since it began, said that recent Thanksgivings have brought between 150 and 200 people each year to the Coupeville community potluck feast.

Griggs remembers the first year with a laugh.

“We had 29 pies, one veggie, a turkey and a big pot of mashed potatoes,” she said.

Luckily, the spread is a little more diverse these days, but there’s still plenty of desserts.

“People bring some pretty spectacular desserts,” said regular Thanksgiving attendee Ann Wilson.

Expect there to be mammoth amounts of Thanksgiving favorites like turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes and cranberries.

“It’s hardly fancy being eaten on paper plates, but we do get some pretty exotic sweet potato dishes,” Griggs said. “People always bring out mom’s secret recipe, but they always seem to keep it secret.”

Don’t be surprised if you also find a variety of salads and maybe even some tomato soup.

“People get creative, but that’s what makes the meal,” Griggs said. “A pretty diverse group always contributes so it’s fun to see what shows up.”

While everyone is encouraged to bring a dish to share, it’s certainly no requirement.

“Everyone just needs to come because it’s so much fun,” Griggs said. “We’re not here to serve anybody, we’re here to bring everyone together for a really fun potluck.”

No matter what feast people choose to attend the story will be the same.

There is a guarantee of fun and friendship when a community gathers for Thanksgiving. There is also a guarantee of plenty of able hands and willing hearts to get the feast prepared and served. When community comes together for Thanksgiving it is more than just food being served. There are lessons to be learned with every table cleared, every dish scraped, washed and put away. There are surprise conversations at every table setting and island neighbors to meet for the first time.

Thanksgiving on Whidbey is truly a community day to give thanks.