For five years, Carolyn Snowbarger watched as her Thanksgiving dinner grew, adding more chairs around the table.

Last year, 37 people gathered at her Ridgway home, where they sat at tables she borrowed from church and battled each other in games of Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit. They chose from smoked, fried and roasted turkey, and brought their favorite dishes to share at the potluck.

This year, Snowbarger won’t move her couch into the bedroom to make room for guests, or spend hours laughing wit...