For the second year in a row, Blue Fox Motel and Tusten Social will host a free Community Thanksgiving Lunch in Narrowsburg, offering neighbors a chance to gather, share a traditional meal, and celebrate together. The event will take place Thursday, Nov. 27, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Blue Fox Motel, 5670 NY-97, Narrowsburg, NY.
“We at the Blue Fox always feel like one of our roles in the community is to be a space for people to convene,” said Meg Sullivan, co-owner of the Blue Fox. “We usually close on Thanksgiving to give our staff the day off so they can be with their families. And then we thought about… people who may not have family nearby or are on their own. And then we thought, well, we’re available. We have the space. Maybe we should do a community-driven Thanksgiving.”
The meal last year drew a diverse group of attendees. “We were just really taken aback by the breadth of the community—how many people really found it useful and wanted to attend,” Greta Knutzen, co-founder of Tusten Social, said. “We had people who found themselves alone, and a couple who were suddenly saddled with young kids, not knowing what to do. And they came along. ”
Knutzen said the Thanksgiving lunch reflects the organization’s mission to strengthen community connections.
“Providing opportunities that allow people to come together in ways they otherwise wouldn’t—this Thanksgiving lunch exemplifies that perfectly,” Knutzen said.
She added that Tusten Social also partners with the Blue Fox on other programs, such as the Teen After Club.
The event also benefits the Narrowsburg Ecumenical Food Pantry, supporting local families in need.
“This year, in particular, has been a complicated year in terms of food and security,” Sullivan said. “So we’re trying to raise money and product—we’ll take both—for the food pantry because they’re doing such an important job right now.”
The meal is free, but RSVPs are required by Monday, Nov. 24, to ensure there’s enough food. Community members can reserve a spot by emailing hello@tustensocial.org.
Attendees can expect a traditional Thanksgiving menu, including turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, and sweet potato soup. “The fire will be roaring… it’ll be a very cozy, warm spot. We’re really looking forward to having everybody,” Sullivan said.
Both organizers emphasized the personal meaning of the event. “We consider the community our family at the Blue Fox,” Sullivan said. “This is an opportunity for us to open our doors and allow people in in a way that we don’t get to do every day.” Knutzen added, “Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. This is a Thanksgiving with the entire community, and it’s just really joyful.”
Image: Meg Sullivan (center) and Greta Knutzen (right) at last year’s Free Community Thanksgiving Lunch. (Credit: Tusten Social)