One Amazingly Blessed Day! "Thanksgiving Dinner at Grandma's Table"

November 23, 2025 was one amazingly blessed day for our community in Ville Platte, Louisiana!  People from all walks of life and some from the Opelousas and Eunice area gathered together to embrace the experience of "Thanksgiving Dinner at Grandma's Table". We served a total of 327 guests! 

Our second annual community Thanksgiving Day Dinner was hosted by Cajun Gems Culinary (a division of SOCKAC), Devoted Catering, City of Ville Platte, Freedom Family Church, and X'Cellence Events, LLC. Our monetary sponsors were Charm Industries, Sherman Place Event Center and ELE Construction,  Bobby Goudy, Evangeline State Farm,  Darion Arvie, and St. John Baptist Church. Our in kind sponsors were Angela Fontenot and Savoy Hospital, Southwest Credit Union, City of Ville Platte and Ville Platte Police Department, Devoted Catering, Fundamentally Structured 357, LLC, Zion Travelers Baptist Church, Christine Sam and her team, T'Johnson Resource Center, St. James Teen Ministry, Sue Pomier, Daniel Arvie, St. Peter Baptist Church, and Freedom Family Church, 

Chef D. Caesar and his assistants Shannon and Mrs. T. Johnson(overseer of all foods), LaKeitha Griffith (overseer of decorations, set up, and table service), and Sarahi Sawtelle (overseer of delivery, greeting, and table service) operated with grace and coached their teams in providing a exceptional, inviting, and peaceful service to  our guests. A total of 40 turkeys were prepared and cooked by the following individuals/groups: John Deville and his team at Cajun Catfish, Kirk Ortego, Kayra Guillory, Laura Anderson, Carol Steckler, Nicole Day, Wilfred Jack, Darnell Dimmick, Knights of Columbus, Council 1754 (Dane and Allen), and our very own Coach in training Mozie Sanchez! Each cook show cased their own special recipe. There were Caribbean Style Jerk Turkey, Cajun Butter Turkey with Herb and Garlic, Roasted Garlic Turkey with Lemon Pepper, deep fried turkey (onsite), air fried turkey (onsite), oven roasted turkey, and Peruvian Turkey. Mayor Ryan seized the stove as he put his special touch on the rice dressing. Chef Caesar and his team cooked up some yummy-yum yams, tasty green beans with bacon, and some oh my God delicious corn!  Mrs. T. Johnson and the Teen Ministry, St. James Baptist Church baked and package cupcakes of different flavors and the team at Cajun Gems Culinary decorated them on site! 

Sarahi and LaKeitha, along with their teams greeted the guests at the door, escorted them to a seat, and served them. Madame Jessica and her team provided games, arts and crafts for the kids to enjoy. There was a coloring and craft contest! After dining, some took advantage of relaxing in one of the rocking chairs. There were several backdrops for picture taking. Santa (Barney Fontenot) made a surprise visit and the kids were not shy about telling him what they wanted for Christmas!  

This celebration was completely outside text-book version of a Thanksgiving Day Dinner. The guests who attended enjoyed the unity of dining and visiting together as a community family. This was one epic day for our community!