<\/a>Mark Sabbatini \/ Juneau Empire\n Christopher Whitehead and Ida Sheakley, at table, are visited by friend Shelly Stevens during a communal Thanksgiving meal at the Juneau Yacht Club hosted by The Salvation Army Juneau Corps on Thursday.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Sheakley said that despite going through struggles that have now lasted years, there are things she’s thankful for this year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“My family cares enough to try to get me home,” she said. “I still have a home to go home to.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Sheakley and Whitehead, both of whom are on Social Security disability, also said they’re thankful for each other after meeting via Facebook a couple of years ago.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Had they made it to Hoonah, Sheakley said she’d be making much of the family’s traditional dinner.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I was just talking to my stepdad about that earlier,” she said. “Traditionally we have roast deer, prime rib, turkey and ham.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/a>Mark Sabbatini \/ Juneau Empire\n Joshua Smith, 22-month-old Aira Smith and Karli Phillips share a table at the communal Thanksgiving dinner hosted by The Salvation Army Juneau Corps at the Juneau Yacht Club on Thursday.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Also making a spontaneous appearance at the communal meal were Joshua Smith, Karli Phillips and their 22-month-old daughter Aira Smith. The parents were festively dressed — he in a full-body polar bear fleece, she in a Santa bear jersey — motivated in part to cheer up their daughter after she got hurt during a fall earlier that morning.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Phillips said she’s been to the communal meal one time previously when it was at the Hanger On The Wharf several years ago, but this year’s decision to come was as spontaneous as their attire<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I forgot it was Thanksgiving until, like, late,” she said. “She’s so young that holidays haven’t been a big deal. We’re just starting this year — she did Halloween, which was kind of fun. So I have nothing prepared at home. I thought ‘this will be a cool event, get her out to see more people,’ because we haven’t been able to find her daycare yet. So she’s kind of a homebody like me.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/a>Keeley Riley, a volunteer at the communal Thanksgiving dinner hosted by The Salvation Army Juneau Corps, offers takeout containers to a family of diners at the Juneau Yacht Club on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Besides family and a roof over their heads, which is “a huge struggle for so many people we know,” Phillips said she has an extra reason to be thankful this year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I have a job interview for a full-time job on Sunday,” she said, adding it’s for a cashier job that will still mean “I can use most of my energy on taking care of her,” referring to her daughter.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Joshua Smith, who works for a construction remodeling company, said he’s thankful “for all of the families that hire my boss to do these projects.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“In my line of work this is a real slim time of year to try to find employment,” he said. “And I was really stressed with the holidays coming up and not having any money for presents or anything. I’m super grateful to have employment and be able to go buy gifts.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t