Cooks at Kuchu\u2019s Restaurant began preparing the meal Monday, said Kuchu\u2019s Banquet Coordinator Raynal Frank. Crews showed up at 3 a.m. Thursday to set up the four assembly lines that created more than 1,500 individual hot meals for the drive-up event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re keeping up, and the wait is not long,\u201d Frank said. \u201cEveryone is smiling under the masks. We have 80 people helping to put it all together.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said 900 pounds of turkey were cooked for the event.<\/p>\n
Workers at the assembly lines filled each to-go container. Cooks hustled to keep up with pans of steaming turkey, ham, potatoes, vegetables, rolls and gravy.<\/p>\n
Another team took orders, and runners brought out the hot meals that were carefully loaded into the vehicles. About 340 meals were delivered to tribal employees.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice, a good meal like this keeps up our spirits. We are working together as a tribe, and also staying safe. We\u2019re thankful for our community and our families,\u201d said Craig Root, who drove through with his son Bronson.<\/p>\n
Next week, turkey and side dishes will be handed out to the White Mesa reservation community to take home and prepare, Heart said.<\/p>\n