NEW ULM — After more than 30 years of serving Thanksgiving meals to friends, families and strangers, the Community Friends Thanksgiving meal event will not be held this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“This year’s restrictions had us at odds as to how to proceed,” read a letter from Community Friends Thanksgiving Dinner Board members Lynn Rowley, Josh Luneburg, Mary Ellen Schanus and Les Schultz.

“A majority of our food preparation volunteers are in some way in at-risk categories,” read the letter. “Many volunteers that we contacted were willing to help but with the daily rising numbers and more recent local outbreaks, we cannot in good conscious bring our volunteer friends in and put them at more risk than they already encounter with their regular activities of daily living.”

The Community Friends Board asked the community to reach out and connect with neighbors safely this holiday season, whether it be with a phone call or note left on their doorstep.

“Please also consider donating food to your local food shelf and encourage those in need to access the food shelf if needed,” read the letter. “We hope and pray that next year, we will be gain able to continue with the tradition of coming together, friends, families, and strangers, to partake in a Thanksgiving meal together.”

Several hundred pounds of squash grown in the New Ulm Community Garden is available for pick-up only distribution at no charge. Check the Community Friends Thanksgiving site for locations when they are determined.

Any donations received for the dinner this year will be held for next year’s event.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).