Veridian Credit Union employees distributed 1,300 free Thanksgiving meals from the UAW Local 838 Union Hall in Waterloo, Iowa on Monday, November 25 for the 43rd annual Mike and Leona Adams Thanksgiving Dinner.

The event is named for the late Mike and Leona Adams. Mike was a member of the UAW Local 838 and a board member for what is now Veridian Credit Union. He and his wife, Leona, brought both organizations together to serve the inaugural free community meal in November 1982 to provide a warm meal for families during the farm crisis. The event is now northeast Iowa’s largest free, annual Thanksgiving meal, serving more than 1,000 meals each year, including turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, corn and pumpkin pie. This is the fifth year meals were served through curbside pick-up and delivery.

“Today, as we celebrate Veridian’s 90th anniversary, the Mike and Leona Adams Thanksgiving Dinner remains one of our richest, longest-standing traditions,” said Veridian President and CEO Renee Christoffer. “We’re grateful for Mike and Leona’s legacy and the example of service they set for all of us.”

Metropolitan Transit Authority (MET Transit) partnered to provide delivery service to anyone living in Cedar Falls, Evansdale or Waterloo without transportation. Other local contributors to the event include College Square Hy-Vee, Martin Bros. Distributing Co., Inc.  and the UAW Local 838.