Food speaks a universal language, according to Senior Pastor Mark Mielnik Jr.

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, members of the community were invited to fill their plates and make a new friend from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Heritage Discovery Center, 1421 12th Ave., Altoona.

The meal is always open to anyone, not just for those in need, Mielnik said.

Volunteer Owen White, 16, of Altoona puts whipped cream on pumpkin pie for the annual Center City Church Community Thanksgiving dinner at the Altoona Heritage Discovery Center on Tuesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“In a world that can be divided, a free meal is where people can come and say what we’re thankful for,” he said.

Giving and growing

In 2001, the first community-oriented Thanksgiving dinner was originally hosted at the Joshua House in Tyrone by founding Center City pastors Jim and Jessica Kilmartin, Mielnik said. Over time, the event moved to the Heritage Discovery Center.

Mielnik inherited the tradition when stepping into the church’s senior leadership role in early 2025, but he said the event volunteers deserve the credit.

Meal Director Tonya Yeager said about 50 volunteers turned out to help this year.

Guests enjoy the meal at the annual Center City Church Community Thanksgiving dinner at the Altoona Heritage Discovery Center on Tuesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Some volunteers were only available to prepare or serve food, but about 20 were able to do both, she said.

Volunteers ranged from restaurant owners and people in food service to church members and more.

“We have people who love people,” Mielnik said.

Altoona Area High School students Owen White, 16, and Taylor Yeager, 16, were handing out dessert options before the event began.

As a member of Center City, White has been serving at the event for three years.

Center City Church pastor Mark Melnik (right) leads his volunteers in prayer before guests enter the Altoona Heritage Discovery Center for the annual free community Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Volunteering puts things into perspective, he said, which is why young people should donate their time.

“It’s good for (students) to experience that they’re not as unfortunate as others,” said Taylor, who has been helping out for four years alongside her mother, Tonya Yeager.

Looking forward, White hopes more people attend the dinner to show “that there’s still good in the world, and that people aren’t always mean.”

On the other end of the dessert table stood sisters Morgan Santos, 10, and Ronika Blackmon, 9, who attend Mowrie A. Ebner Elementary school.

They were excited on Tuesday, as it was their first time volunteering for the event.

Ethan Montgomery of Tyrone sets up server Cindy Piotti of Altoona at the annual Center City Church Community Thanksgiving dinner at the Altoona Heritage Discovery Center on Tuesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Center City volunteer Denise Stewart said she’s been involved with the event for five years.

She plans to continue helping in the future “as long as God enables me.”

When asked why she continues to help, she said she “wants to treat people the way that I would want to be treated.”

“For me, it’s just a joy and a pleasure to serve people,” she said.

Carving, mashing and slicing

Volunteer Hallee White, 9, of Altoona serves lemonade to a guest at the annual Center City Church Community Thanksgiving dinner at the Altoona Heritage Discovery Center on Tuesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

The church prepared for more than 1,000 guests, Mielnik said, noting that 600 pounds of turkey and 300 pounds of ham were dished out Tuesday evening.

Various church members picked up frozen meat to cook, season, carve and keep at the proper temperature, Yeager said.

Once cooked, members brought the main dishes to the Heritage Discovery Center.

As for sides, she said seven 20-quart roasters held mashed potatoes, stuffing and vegetables. The side dishes were prepared at Keystone Restaurant and Truck Stop in Loretto by owner Mike Ritchey and staff members. They also donated the stuffing.

Ritchey and his team started cooking about 5 or 6 a.m. Tuesday, Yeager said.

Making the dishes in a commercial kitchen allowed for volunteers to “boil eight quarts of water at the same time” to cook mashed potatoes, she added.

“People get cramped hands after opening jars,” Mielnik said tongue-in-cheek.

A wide variety of beverages, such as lemonade and water, were also available for guests, along with a coffee bar.

Center City did not forget dessert.

A table was dedicated to cookies, brownies and plates of pumpkin pie slices with whipped cream piled on top.

Almost all of the food was donated by the Blair County Food Drive, Yeager said.

If they end up with extra dinners at the end of the evening, Milenik said they’ll donate to the police department, shelters or Walmart if needed.

Volunteer Anne Macklin was happy to serve mashed potatoes at the event, while Matthew Renney was on stuffing duty.

Not only did they like serving side dishes, but they enjoyed serving their community as well.

“So (the community) can get a fresh meal before Thanksgiving,” Renney added.

Sharing more than a meal

“Everyone has a story,” Mielnik said, so providing a meal allows for conversation.

A meal where people can gather “without the stress of cooking and without the fixings, (where) they can really sit down at the table, is such a needed thing in our society,” he said.

Karen Winrick, Louise McCoy and Christine Lingafelt were first in line this year.

Because they’re familiar with the event, Lingafelt said they have met new people there, such as Mielnik.

When McCoy first met the pastor, she “fell in love with him,” Lingafelt said with a grin.

“She wanted to take him home,” Lingafelt said. “And he remembers her every year.”

With that in mind, the event “brings the community together, you get to meet new people,” she said.

“We’re hungry,” McCoy said as she ate her meal.

Trans4mation Church workers Harold Ferguson and Lee Blazer were also hungry Tuesday evening.

Coworker Teresa Miller said Ferguson and Blazer are “always excited” about the dinner, which is why she decided to pull up a chair this year.

“Food is like a love language” to Miller, which is why she believes a hot meal can bring a community together.

“I’m in love a lot then,” Blazer said, which made the group burst into laughter.

They made some new friends while standing in the food line, which Center City Church is very intentional at encouraging, Miller said.

As a social butterfly, she said, “there are no strangers, just friends you haven’t met yet.”

The Heritage Discovery Center turns into a place that brings people together, Mielnik said.

“You don’t leave with an empty belly,” he said.