GILMORE CITY - The seventh- and eighth-grade classes at Twin River Valley Middle School may be small in numbers, but that doesn't mean they can't put on a big event.
Wednesday afternoon was proof of that, as the school's students and staff, along with representatives from Thrivent Financial, served dinner for 177 senior citizens from the district's six communities, a long-standing school tradition of nearly 20 years.
"It started with the National Honor Society when Gilmore City had a high school here," said Ron Bollmeyer, TRV Middle School principal and superintendent of the Gilmore City-Bradgate Community School. "And when the Twin River Valley Middle School moved here it was a project the eighth grade class continued."
The school's inaugural holiday dinner, which Bollmeyer said was held at least 20 years ago, started as a small event, but has since grown to pack the cafeteria each year.
"There were 25 people at the first dinner," Bollmeyer said. "And our record year was around 220 people."
The holiday dinner is a project the students begin working on several months before when they hold a fall fundraiser to purchase items for the meal, Bollmeyer said.
"The student council and Thrivent provide the funds, which help the students pay for the plates and decorations," he said.
Students transformed the the cafeteria into a formal dining room decorated with colorful lights, tinsel, Christmas table cloths, trees and candles complete with a sit down dinner of turkey and all the sides, which the students serve on holiday-themed plates.
Jane Nielsen, the school's cook, prepared much of the meal, which she said is for a few more people than the number of students she serves on a daily basis.
"I start early on the turkey," she said. "I baked all of the bread last night, and served the kids homemade pizza and rice crispy bars before the dinner today."
Members of Thrivent Financial also assisted Nielsen in the kitchen, forming an assembly line to scoop potatoes, dressing, corn and gravy onto each plate before they were topped off with turkey and handed to the students to take to the waiting diners.
For Putter and Darlene Jergens, attending the holiday dinner has become an annual tradition. The couple has also helped contribute to the students' learning experience before the dinner. Each student fills out an application for the job they wish to work during the dinner, and Putter Jergens goes to the classroom and reviews and critiques each application with the students.
"They're all very good kids," Darlene Jergens said. "They do a great job. This is an excellent service learning project for them."
"It makes an educational experience for our students," Bollmeyer said. "And I think for as much as the seniors enjoy coming, the kids enjoy it that much more."
Ruth Dickey enjoyed the day out from the nursing home where she lives to attend the dinner.
" I came to spend some time with friends," she said. "I enjoy coming every year to see how many people I might know."
She said going to the dinner also brings back memories of days when her own children and grandchildren attended school in Gilmore City.
"I have a lot of children," she said. "So I've seen a lot of this school."
Although the next holiday dinner is a year away, Bollmeyer said plans for it will soon be underway.
"Jane will probably start thinking about next year tomorrow," he said. "We could never find a better cook anywhere."
Contact Emilie Nelson at (515) 573-2141 or enelson@messengernews.net