Durham’s “Thanksgiving In Spring” Set for April 27

Thanksgiving may only come once a year in other communities, but in Durham it now comes twice.

Residents are invited to “Thanksgiving In Spring,” a first-ever family dinner event to create Durham’s longest dinner table and potluck along Mangum Street for an afternoon of fellowship, food, partnership, and fun.

Sponsored by the Durham Urban Innovation Center with the City of Durham’s Neighborhood Improvement Services Department, Build A Better Block, and Marry Durham, this free community potluck will make Durham the first in North Carolina to host this type of event on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Old Five Points community in downtown Durham (Mangum Street to Hunt Street will be closed for this event and traffic detours will be provided). In the event of rain, Fullsteam Brewery has partnered to host the event at their location, 726 Rigsbee Avenue, on the same day and time.

According to Wanona Satcher, neighborhood development specialist with the City’s Neighborhood Improvement Services Department, the goal of having this type of event is quite simple. “We want our residents to sit around one table with City employees in an effort to promote service, new partnerships, and diversity,” Satcher said. “As a culture of service event, City departments are donating dishes of their best recipes and sending employees to volunteer to help create Durham’s first family dinner. Through service such as this, we believe we are helping to revitalize Durham one block at a time.”

Although a free event, participants and attendees must register for tickets online or go to the City’s Neighborhood Improvement Services Department, located at 807 E. Main St., Suite 2-300, to pick up tickets and flyers.

Residents are also invited to bring dishes of their favorite recipes and join the fun. Partner organizations and other non-profits are invited to adopt-a-table by donating a table and chairs to the event along with the opportunity to provide information on their services and programs.

To donate food, adopt-a-table or volunteer during the event, residents and local organizations should contact Satcher at (919) 560-1647, ext. 34227 or by email. For more information, visit Facebook.

About the City of Durham Neighborhood Improvement Services Department
The Neighborhood Improvement Services Department works to preserve and improve quality of life conditions for Durham residents, and to encourage active participation in neighborhood redevelopment and public policy and decision making dialogue. The department is responsible for enforcement of quality of life ordinances and state statutes including the City’s Minimum Housing Code; Nonresidential Code; Weedy Lot, Abandoned and Junk Vehicle ordinances; and the State of North Carolina’s Unsafe Building Statute. The department’s rapid responders, known as the Impact Team, remediate non-compliant housing properties; abate public nuisances, such as litter, graffiti, illegal dumping, and abandoned shopping carts; and conduct neighborhood service projects. The department’s Community Engagement staff provides outreach and education to Durham residents and community organizations. Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, the department helps ensure that Durham has thriving, livable neighborhoods by providing the highest quality of services to engage and educate the community, eradicate blight, ensure safer neighborhoods, and enhance neighborhood revitalization. For more information, visit online.