It’s all about the “community.” From 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 23, the 6th Annual BV Strong Community Dinner touched hearts and filled the bellies of 3,600 people at 450 tables lined up and down East Main Street in downtown Buena Vista. Hosted by BV Strong, the community dinner symbolizes the strength and unity of the people that make up the unique small-town dynamic of Buena Vista.
Setup of some of the 450 tables
that stretched the length of Main Street, Buena Vista, for the Sept. 24 BV Strong dinner.
Sponsored entirely by donations, the BV Strong Community Dinner utilized the power of sharing a meal to bring a community together at one metaphorical table, and to pass around the gift of fellowship. The potluck affair made every table unique and one of the best ways to experience the variety of tastes and cultures represented in Buena Vista and the Arkansas Valley.
Despite the variety of food, the one common dish at every table was an invitation to “meet your neighbor,” say hello to a stranger, and embrace gratitude for the blessing of living in such a community. When the dinner finally began, the streets came alive.
“The best part is the time we were sitting down and eating,” BV Strong Planning Committee Member Amy Lively recalled. “Passing bowls left and right and listening to the laughter and chatter was beautiful. There’s nothing like it.”
The community dinner encourages attendees to have fun with the event and always has a few characters make an appearance. This year, an inflatable dinosaur costume made a “prehistoric” appearance, encouraging everyone to laugh a little in between bites.
This year also saw the inaugural Heart of the Rockies live radio broadcast of the event with resounding success. Listeners could tune in to Eagle Country 104.1 FM or on the free Heart of the Rockies mobile phone app. This made it so anybody could participate in the dinner, even if they weren’t able to physically make it to a table.
Fantastic volunteer turnout made setting up and tearing down go as smooth as possible, and East Main Street was cleaned up in no time. One would hardly know that moments before, the entire town was crowding the streets. Once again, the 6th Annual BV Strong Dinner brought a close-knit community even closer with one meal.
“It’s an unconditional event. Come as you are, there is a seat for everyone. The people we see are our neighbors and friends, and one day you might sit across from them at the BV Strong Dinner,” Lively regaled.
There’s even a seat for dinosaurs, too.
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