Durbin Lions continue tradition of turkey dinner

Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer

Each year, the Durbin Lions Club provides a turkey dinner with all the fixings to members of communities in northern Pocahontas County.

The tradition began with a large donation of turkeys.

“Interstate [Lumber Company] used to give turkeys to their employees,” member Harold Crist said. “They had a lot left over one year and they gave them to us. We started serving the dinner and every year, it kept getting bigger and bigger.”

Crist said he thinks the original turkey donation was in 1963. After that initial donation, Interstate president Gene Frazee decided to make a monetary donation to the club in order to continue offering the dinner.

“They gave us a check to do what we wanted,” Dick Riegel said. “We used the money for our Durbin Halloween party and the Christmas meal. I was the club’s treasurer at the time.”

The club partnered with Ryder’s restaurant in Boyer to serve the meal until it closed in 2012. Three years ago, the Dunmore Country Mart and Bakery took up the task of preparing the meal. Owner Kevin Fraser is a member of the club, as well.

Now, the club uses funds raised throughout the year to provide the meal. Letters are sent out inviting members of the community to enjoy the food and fellowship.

This year, the club served more than 80 meals.