<p>Dh and I offered our home as a place for ds to host co-workers who can’t make it home. I figured we would end up with 15-18 kids – well, early 20somethings, just-graduated, working low-wage jobs. Ds is crafting an e-mail to send to co-workers. I didn’t figure on plus-ones because most of these kids moved here for this job, but apparently there are several potential plus-ones. He is going to stress people cannot bring all their roomies. We’ll know by midweek, but the numbers could reach 40 easy. Aack. Double aack.</p>
<p>The good news is he’s getting a preliminary headcount so that they can formulate a sign-up sheet, stressing the potluck nature of the event. I figure maybe we are on the hook for ham and paper goods, someone else can bring the turkey and anything else that needs an oven. What things should we have on the sign-up sheet? Pies, drinks, sides. What else? I’ve met several of these co-workers, and they are all wonderful so I don’t think we’ll have a problem with people showing up empty-handed.</p>
<p>Anyone ever have one of these things who has some great tips? We have 8-foot tables we can set up, and I guess we can rent chairs.</p>
<p>Also, we are not religious, but I wouldn’t be opposed to asking someone in the group whether they’d like to lead a prayer. Good or bad idea?</p>
<p>don’t forget huge garbage bags. Recycling bin/box. Sharpies to write names on plates, cups. And there’s not a thing wrong with asking if those who want to pray, want to, imho. My family is of mixed-religiosity and my dad yells “Ok! Assume your position of favor! Prayers pray, atheists, hum, but nobody steal my pie”</p>
<p>Sturdy paper plates and fancy plasticware!!! Do you have enough table space and chairs for a large crowd? I see you plan on renting chairs - make sure you reserve yours in advance. One year Mr B borrowed plastic picnic chairs from his company’s lunchroom. </p>
<p>I don’t like prayers (another atheist here)… but I do insist on everyone saying what they’re grateful for. (One year my son said “I’m grateful you’re picking up the check.”)</p>
<p>40ish is the typical size of my family’s holiday dinners. When it is my turn I rent everything - all the plates/glasses/silver etc. They go back into the boxes just scraped and the rental co comes and picks everything up the next day. You can rent that stuff at the same place you rent the chairs. </p>
<p>The way we do it is every family is assigned one dish (sometimes two depending) and the hostess makes the main course (though often someone else will make a second turkey and another another a brisket.) And hostess supplies drinksIf I was doing it for “orphans” I would make the two turkeys and whatever brisket or ham, etc. </p>
<p>Make sure your son tells his co-workers that they can order stuff already prepared from most markets (for instance mash potatoes, veggie platters, etc. so they don’t feel like the have to do the cooking themselves - unless they want to. </p>
<p>I think it’s perfectly fine to ask if someone wants to say Grace and if not it’s always nice if host/hostess says something along the lines of how thankful we are to be able to have all of you join us blah, blah, blah. </p>
<p>I’m not crazy about prayers not believing in God. Here’s one: <a href=“http://www.pehf.org/grace1.html”>http://www.pehf.org/grace1.html</a> I do like some sort of ritual though. My mother’s family does sing a Thanksgiving hymn and it never bothers me even though it’s definitely something Christian.</p>
<p>As for the turkey, I’ve made legs and wings the day before in a gravy and it reheats without a problem in those big disposable foil pans. You could ask a couple of nearby guests to cook up a turkey breast or two each, which is much easier than cooking and bringing a whole bird. </p>
<p>Not an atheist, but I don’t believe in prayers at a dinner unless you KNOW everybody is in agreement. Doesn’t sound like the crowd for it. I do like the giving thanks idea. </p>
<p>Can the guests be asked to being appetizers and desserts? That way you would just do the meal. It sounds terrific. A spiral ham in addition to a bunch of turkey sounds great!</p>
<p>Sounds like great fun! We have had dinners that grew out of control like that in the past and they were great. The focus left the presentation of the table and food and went on the togetherness of the people. </p>
<p>I would see what you can borrow: tables, chairs, dishes, etc. I would see if anybody wants to bring a dish and open it up to pot luck. You could promise to furnish just a few items, like the turkey and the place. (Unless you like to cook and can handle this large a group, then go for it. I have done it both ways. I am enough of a control freak I prefer to make all the food and have the guests bring the chairs, tablecloths, etc)</p>
<p>I am not crazy about having a prayer, but do like the idea of going around the room and letting people tell what they are grateful for. The religious can say something involving God, the non religious can say something else. </p>
<p>There was a great tip about making mashed potatoes the day before and keeping them nice and hot in a crockpot in the Thanksgiving menu thread. </p>
<p>My personal large gathering rule is that as the host, I provide <em>everything</em>, but the guests are not prohibited from bringing their favorite sides/desserts or any special bottle of wine they saved for the occasion. I would probably kill myself cooking for so many, but at least I will give it a try. :)</p>
<p>No advice but I just wanted to say how great it is that you ars doing this. My son lives far away from any family and has been lucky enough to be invited to a coworker’s sister’s orphans’ thanksgiving dinner the last few years. It is a great thing.</p>
<p>The first few years we were away from family, a co-workers family did this. I actually ended up being really great friends with his mother and we are still in touch to this day.</p>
<p>My dad (Army) used to invite some of his corpsmen who were on duty TG weekend to come over to our house for dinner. They were very appreciative and ate like they’d never seen food. After seeing all five of us kids at the table, I’m not sure the corpsmen ever saw my dad the same way again, either. ;)</p>
<p>YDS, I would encourage folks to bring sides, and have them list the ingredients for those who may have allergies, etc. A few vegetarian dishes for a young crowd would probably be appreciated, and some of your guests may have just the thing to make!</p>
We’ll know by midweek, but the numbers could reach 40 easy. Aack. Double aack.</p>