- By Dan Veaner
- Around Town
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To date four generations of Ms. Tyrrell's family have made Election Day dinners happen, including her Grandmother, Mother and daughter. In fact her Mother, Elsie Sharpsteen, still participates. She used to cut the pies every year. Though less active this year she baked two pies for the event. This Tuesday they served about 625 people at the $6 a plate Dinner and $7 Supper. "This has been a tradition," says Ms. Tyrrell. "We don't call it 'lunch.' It's been 'dinner and supper' for years." The group earned around $4000 for the day. "On a big election year we average between four and five thousand dollars, because we feed between eight to nine hundred people."
The North Lansing Auxiliary has run the dinners for 41 years. "First the church ladies did it," says Ms. Tyrrell, "and then the Grange ladies. And then when they decided they couldn't do it, we took over." The Grange, a farmers' organization, had a hall that was built on Auburn Road in 1896 and was torn down 93 years later. It was used for meetings and social events.
Irene Tyrrell greets diners
Ms. Sharpsteen was a prime mover in forming the Auxiliary and raising the money to build the fire hall, so it was natural that her daughter, Ms. Tyrrell, would take a leadership role. Ms. Tyrrell is a delightful, energetic woman who greeted each visitor to the dinner and made sure they were seated and happy. Many received hugs as they entered the dining area. "She is our backbone," says Sharon Campbell, who was selling knives with her daughter Gale to benefit the Auxiliary.
Sharon (left) and Gale Campbell
The group began when the North Lansing community decided to form their own fire company. At that time it was separate from the Lansing Fire District, but has since merged. But the Auxiliary still takes a lot of pride in their fire house, raising money on their own to maintain it. "We pay for the cleaning, we buy our own products. We do not ask anything of the taxpayers to pay for our building. We just are very independent. But we figure if we worked and earned this money, that's our way of giving back to the community," explains Ms. Tyrrell. "We look out for the firemen. When we have pancake breakfasts they're all our guests. This is our way to give back to them."
Now the Auxiliary raises money for other causes as well. "Now we do a lot of community service," Ms. Tyrrell says. This includes donations to Hospicare, Loaves and Fishes, the Salvation Army, the Lansing Food Pantry, the Gossett Center and anybody that is in need when tragedy strikes. They also use money for awards for students from the community.
The group is comprised of about 45 members, not all from North Lansing. Ms. Campbell, for example, is from South Lansing as are other members. They hold regular monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of every month at the fire hall.
Volunteers man the kitchen
The dinner was manned by at least 30 volunteers. "People are wonderful to volunteer. There are a lot of auxiliary members," says Ms. Tyrrell, "but there are a lot of people who just want to be a part of this, and they volunteer their time. At night we have a lot of youngsters, juniors and seniors. We always do have a very good turnout in Lansing. They get out and vote."
 Park Superintendent and Recreation Director Steve Colt (left) and Judge William Burin (right) are among Town officials who eat at the dinner. |
A lot of town officials and employees were among volunteers cooking and serving meals. "Steve (Farkas) and Sharon (Bowman) always come, but Sharon is a member of our auxiliary. Steve has always volunteered, and it's just a part of life. This is the way it is." Others from the government come to eat. "It's a tradition that they all come for dinner from the Town Hall."
Ms. Tyrrell sums up what motivates her. "If you have nothing to work for, or you don't have a purpose, you have nothing. You have to be busy and you have to be needed."
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