26th Community Thanksgiving Dinner returns

The spirit of gratitude and fellowship will once again fill Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks this Thanksgiving, as volunteers and organizers prepare for the 26th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The free, family-style meal, a Lowcountry tradition since 1999, is expected to serve more than 1,500 residents and visitors this year. The event is a partnership between St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church and Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, which hosts the dinner each Thanksgiving Day.
The Community Thanksgiving Dinner began 26 years ago after an Island Packet article highlighted residents with nowhere to go for the holiday. Hudson’s co-owner Brian Carmines, community member Allan LaCoe, and Betsy Doughtie, former executive director of the Deep Well Project, came together to create a shared meal open to anyone in need of company or food. With the help of St. Andrew By-The-Sea, the first dinner served about 500 people.
Since then, the event has grown into a hallmark of the island’s holiday season, drawing hundreds of volunteers each year. Many travel from outside Hilton Head to lend a hand, assisting with parking, greeting guests, serving meals and providing entertainment. Organizers estimate that half of all volunteers return annually, and the roster typically fills by mid-October.
This year marks a leadership transition. After 25 years of organizing the event, Gloria and Allan LaCoe have retired from their volunteer roles. Lesley Kyle, who has served on the leadership team for the past two years, has stepped in to coordinate the 2025 dinner.

“The LaCoes have done a wonderful job all these years and I’m honored to step into the role,” Kyle said in the event announcement. She added that her move to the island and membership in St. Andrew By-The-Sea made the opportunity feel like a natural fit.
Hudson’s co-owner Andrew Carmines said the restaurant is proud to continue hosting the event. “The Thanksgiving dinner is such a tremendous community endeavor every year, and we are excited to host and serve again at this year’s event,” he said in a prepared statement.
While the meal is free, donations collected during the event and through the Community Thanksgiving website benefit local nonprofit organizations, including Bluffton Self Help, the Deep Well Project, and Second Helpings.
For more information or to contribute, visit communitythanksgiving.com.