Our committee is compiled of eight members and two junior members. We meet weekly each fall, starting mid-September. Hundreds of hours are spent discussing, planning, organizing, soliciting for donations, ordering food and supplies and coordinating volunteers and deliveries to ensure a great Thanksgiving meal is had by all! 

Co-Presidents

Jimi Grimmer

Kitchen Manager

Jimi began volunteering in 1994 at the age of 13 alongside his parents and younger sister. With the exception of the two years he was overseas while serving in the US Army, he has volunteered every year, helping cook in the kitchen and other various jobs that were needed. 

Today, Jimi oversees the kitchen, he is the certified ServSafe rep for the organization and ensures all food is cooked and ready for our guests upon arrival. 

This will be his 29th year volunteering/serving on the committee and in 2015, he became co-president.  

Nicole Underwood

Operations Manager

At the age of 16, Nicole began volunteering with Hometown Thanksgiving in 1999. Alongside her dad George, Nicole has helped out in all volunteer spots, mastering all the areas she worked in.

In 2015, along with Jimi Grimmer, she was asked to be a co-president of our committee. She primarily works in the kitchen, helping to prep all food for Thanksgiving Day, and assists with acquiring all needed food and monetary donations. This is her 26th year with us.

Trustee

Kevin Tompkins

In 1985, one year after the annual dinner began and our committee took over the organizing and planning of the meal, Kevin joined as a volunteer. The first year, unsure of what to expect, he arrived with his family, wearing a dress shirt, dress slacks and dress shoes only to find out he would be outside for the day- it was definitely one of the colder Thanksgiving Days he remembers!!

Since joining, Kevin has been the chairman for our hospitality room and in 2007, he became chairman of the board when Hometown Thanksgiving became incorporated. In 2015, his 30th year with Hometown, he asked Jimi Grimmer and Nicole Underwood to join him as co-presidents. This is his 40th year with us!

Committee Members 

Meg Grimmer

Communications Liaison & Volunteer/Delivery Coordinator

Shortly after she got engaged to our co-president Jimi in 2006, Meg volunteered each year as wait staff with Hometown Thanksgiving. Little by little, she took on more and more odd jobs and finally landed in the role she's in now.

In 2016, Meg became a committee member, manning the phones and overseeing the coordination of all of our volunteers and meal deliveries. She also handles all social media, as well as advertising and connecting with local agencies. This is her 19th year with us.

Alisha Maurer

Dining Room Coordinator

Alisha began volunteering with Hometown Thanksgiving in 1999 alongside her dad George and her sister Nicole, one of our co-presidents. 

She has done a little bit of everything as she has helped out in all volunteer spots. In 2024, Alisha joined as a committee member and helps to oversee the dining room to help keep it moving smoothly.

Jayme Napier

Hospitality Room Coordinator

Alongside her parents and her older brother Jimi, Jayme began volunteering with Hometown Thanksgiving in 1994, when she was 7 years old. She began as a helper in our hospitality room, wait staffing for a few years and then eventually go back to hospitality.

Now, Jayme is a committee member and oversees the hospitality room, greeting and conversing with guests, ushering them to their place in the dining room and making sure anyone who arrives feels welcomed. This is her 31st year with us.

Debbie Palmer

Dessert Coordinator

Debbie has been with Hometown Thanksgiving since 1984! She received a call from a family that help was needed at the Church of the Messiah so she arrived with a few friends, helping out wherever was needed. Over the years, she did various job functions, helping in any capacity asked of her.

In 2015, Debbie became a committee member and now she oversees our desserts department. She helps solicit and procure donations, as well as treats and goodies to serve our guests. This is Debbie's 41st year with us.

Dave Pike

Facilities/Decorations Coordinator

David started volunteering with us in 2005, joining his wife Kim and two children Kristin and Geoffrey, who had started a few years before him. He has worked in numerous capacities over the years- set up, decorating, clean-up and storage, along with bussing tables during the meal.

David is now a committee member, helping us plan, organize and prepare for our big day. This is his 20th year with us.

Junior Committee Members 

Jack Grimmer

Jack began volunteering with his mom & dad, Jimi and Meg, in 2012 when he was 4 years old. Over the years, he has helped in a variety of areas- hospitality, wait staff, and meal runner. 

When the COVID hit in 2020, Jack became a junior committee member, doing any job needed, our "Jack of all trades". Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday and he hopes to continually take on new tasks with planning for Thanksgiving Day! This is his 13th year with us.

Kyle Underwood

Kyle began volunteering with his mom Nicole, co-president, in 2009. Since he has joined, he has helped in many different capacities. He helps ensure food is prepped and ready for Thanksgiving Day and also helps with meal running for those that are coming to pickup a meal or for those delivering meals to our homebound guests. This is his 16th year with us.