Essentia colleague makes volunteering at Twin Ports Thanksgiving Buffet a family tradition

Every year on Thanksgiving, hundreds of volunteers head to the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center to prepare and serve over 6,000 free holiday meals at the Twin Ports Thanksgiving Day Buffet and deliver an additional 1,000 meals to individuals at home.

For nearly 30 years, Essentia Health has proudly partnered with the community to sponsor this event. Many Essentia colleagues volunteer their time at the annual buffet, exemplifying the organization’s values of hospitality and teamwork. Among them is Jeannine Morgan, a Minnesota Senior Health Options care coordinator and registered nurse, who has made volunteering at the buffet a cherished family tradition.

For Jeannine, the Thanksgiving buffet is more than just an act of service, it’s a way to give back to her community while creating meaningful memories with her family. For the last three years, Jeannine, her husband and their two children have volunteered to serve meals and desserts to those in need.

Jeannine first got involved with the Thanksgiving buffet in the early 2000s, when her father-in-law introduced her to the event at St. Scholastica. At the time, she admits she might not have sought out the opportunity on her own, but the experience opened her eyes to the importance of community service.

“It brought to light the support these events require and the difference they make,” she says.

As her kids grew older, Jeannine and her husband decided to involve them in volunteering.

“We wanted to expose them early to community engagement and serving others,” she explains.

While her sons, now in their early teens, may not always be enthusiastic at first, they quickly light up as they hand out desserts and connect with guests.

“They're learning that that kind of service goes without a reward; the reward is doing the service itself,” she reflects.

Volunteering has also brought a sense of perspective to the holiday season for Jeannine’s family.

“Volunteering takes the pressure off and reminds us that holidays don’t have to be perfect,” she shares. “They can be about connection and service.”

For Jeannine, the Thanksgiving tradition holds an even deeper significance. As a lung cancer survivor, she views each holiday as a gift. Diagnosed in 2016, Jeannine underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery at Essentia Health. When her surgeon delivered the news that her body had successfully responded to treatment, she felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

“I was given a new opportunity,” she recalls. “I made a pact with myself to give back in any way I could.”

Now nine years into her recovery, Jeannine treasures the traditions her family has built around volunteering during the holidays. “It means I’m still here,” she says. For Jeannine, volunteering at the Thanksgiving buffet is not only an act of service for her community, but also a testament to her resilience as a cancer survivor.