We can always use help, if you need to come at a different time or want to bring a friend to help, we will put you to work! 

LOCATION // Where to go to volunteer: 

The dinner will be prepared and served from the kitchen and social hall of the First United Methodist Church located at the corner of Centre Avenue and Aiken Avenue. The address is 5401 Centre Avenue. (This is the church on the other side of the Wendy’s drive-through from Albright)

Entrance: use the entrance on Centre Ave above the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library

Parking: there is a limited number of spots in the small lot on Centre. There is also street parking on Centre Ave

When you arrive:

Please head to the volunteer check-in table.

• Sign a waiver
• Get a name tag
• Wash your hands! (There will be lots of hand washing)
• We will have a place for coats, but we recommend leaving your purses and valuables in your car.

VOLUNTEER TASKS // What you will be doing:

In the kitchen: food prep, cooking, dishwashing

Outside of the kitchen: room setup, setting the table, serving guests beverages and dessert, dishwashing

All volunteers who are working in the kitchen MUST wear a hairnet, which we will have available. (A hat is also permissible).

SCHEDULE // What happens when:

This is an approximate schedule of activities for the day

10am

• Kitchen: Food prep
• Dining room: clean and set up tables

11am – 3pm

• Kitchen: Food prep & Cooking
• Dining room: set tables

3pm – 5pm

• Final food prep – preparing food for the buffet
• Guests start to arrive and line up in hallway
• Dishwashing – get started on cleaning up the cooking supplies

5pm

• Set up buffet
• Final table setting
• Set up the dessert table

5:30pm – 7pm

• Dinner is served!
• Volunteers will refill beverages, serve dessert, clear dishes

7pm – done

• Wash dishes
• Put away tables & chairs
• Take out the trash & recycling

MENU // What will we be serving for dinner?

• Turkey
• Stuffing
• Yams
• Mashed Potatoes
• Green Beans
• Gravy

We will also be serving rolls, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.

VOLUNTEER FAQ // We might already have an answer to your question:

Q: I need to change the time I signed up to help?
A: Just come over when you are available! There is always something to help with. We will have volunteer tasks all day.

Q: Who attends the dinner?
A: Everyone! All are welcome to attend. Feel free to extend an invitation to other groups you know of. Each year, we serve a wide range of guests, from neighbors to UPMC Shadyside employees to Pittsburgh students.

Q: Is there enough food for volunteers to have dinner as well?
A: Some years, there is more than enough food for volunteers to have dinner as well. If there is enough food, we encourage volunteers to take a break and sit and eat dinner with the guests.

Q: What happens to extra food?
A: We have already reached out to area nonprofits. If there is extra food, we plan to donate any leftovers. If you know of an organization that would like some leftovers, please let us know! Email friends@albrightpgh.com

Q: Can I bring my children to volunteer?
A: Families are welcome to volunteer. If you are bringing a child, plan to stay with them and help them with their volunteer task. (For example, parents and kids often hand out pie together)

Q: Can I share photos on social media!
A: Yes, please! You can tag @AlbrightPGH on Instagram and Friends of Albright on Facebook.

November 21, 2025: This information has been updated for the 2025 dinner.

This year’s dinner was one of the biggest meals in recent memory. We served over 250 meals in the social hall and prepared another 60 to be delivered to the North Shore. We pretty much only had a few pies and some yams left at the end of the evening. 

A huge thank you to photographer Larry Rippel for stopping by and capturing some photos of the dinner.

Photo credit: Larry Rippel

Volunteer Here: First Food and Friends

Many of you have reached out to ask where you can volunteer on a regular basis. Every Saturday, First United Methodist Church serves up a free meal through their First Food and Friends program. 

The director of First Food and Friends is Monique McCain and she is always looking for volunteers. You can reach her at 412-676-8925. Follow the First Food and Friends Facebook page for updates. 

Thanks To You!

Thank you to all of our supporters who donated – we had over 55 individuals contribute to our GoFundMe page this year! We were able to hire Community Kitchen Pittsburgh to help us prepare some of the meal. 

A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who helped with cooking, setup and cleanup. This meal is truly a community effort.

Community Kitchen

Community Kitchen is a nonprofit organization located in Hazelwood that offers no-cost job training in culinary industries. Community Kitchen offers catering and prepares many of the grab & go items you might pick up in coffee shops around the city.
If you are looking for a new lunch spot – check out Community Kitchen’s Bloom Cafe in Hazelwood!

The 2019 Albright Thanksgiving Eve dinner was a huge gathering! We had over 100 volunteers who helped with cooking and clean up. This year we served over 250 meals on-site.  Thank you for making the holiday extra special!

This is a 100% volunteer-run event…and thanks to all throughout our greater Pittsburgh community for prepping and cooking the food, serving the hot meals, setting up tables, and helping to clean up. And we’re incredibly grateful all who donated funds to support the dinner.

And very special thanks to:

• Rev. Tracy Cox and Rev. Jeff Miller of First United Methodist Church -Thank you for your incredible support, the use of your facility and all of your wonderful volunteers.
• East End Cooperative Ministry – Thank you for your time and the use of your space.