Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
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Sunday, November 22, 2009
By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer
Members of some area churches are preparing to provide Thanksgiving meals to those who might otherwise be alone or hungry.
The Oak Hill Cathedral of Glory in Bassett will serve a free, traditional dinner on Thanksgiving Day, from noon until 4 p.m. or “until the food runs out,” said Judy Taylor, a member of the committee planning the dinner.
The traditional menu will include turkey, ham, corn, green beans, macaroni and cheese, rolls and pumpkin pie, she said.
This marks the second Thanksgiving meal the church has served, Taylor said. She added that the first dinner last year attracted nearly 100 people.
“We’re expecting about that many people this year,” she said.
The church is hoping other churches, businesses and organizations will assist with financial support or by providing food and/or volunteers to help with the dinner, Taylor said.
“Any and all help will be appreciated,” she said.
Families in the church were asked to contribute baskets of food for the meal, Taylor said. Ideally, each basket will contain meat and vegetables.
Currently, the church has six turkeys for the meal, she estimated, and she is “sure there will be more” in time for the dinner.
Pies and other foods that can be made ahead likely will be prepared on Monday and Tuesday, Taylor said.
Depending on how many turkeys and hams are received, cooking may begin late Wednesday night or early Thursday, Taylor said.
She hopes there will be plenty of food for anyone who attends and that no one is turned away.
“If we do run out, we’ll try to find other churches or organizations that have food” and direct people to those places, Taylor said.
The church is located at 690 Sunset Drive, Bassett. Anyone interested in participating either by helping or eating is asked to call 629-4730.
The Friendly Worship Center on Virginia 87, Ridgeway, also will serve Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday. The meal is free to anyone in need. Center officials could not be reached for more comments.
Christ Episcopal Church, at 321 E. Church St., Martinsville, will serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal at its monthly free dinner at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Youth in the church will make pies to serve with the meal, according to Jane Thomasson, who helped found the meal eight years ago.
The free homecooked dinner, featuring turkey, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls and dessert, will be served in the undercroft of the church (use the back double doors).
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church partners with Christ Episcopal to help sponsor the meal, and members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will bring desserts and help with the meal, Thomasson said.
Those working and serving the meal will work in shifts, with the first shift set to begin at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. A second shift, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., will help serve and finish cooking, Thomasson said. The last group will start at 5:30 p.m. and will clean up after the meal.
The church asks that participants arrive on time because the food is served quickly.
After everyone is served, carry out meals are available upon request for those who are unable to attend, as long as the food lasts.
The church is unable to deliver meals or provide any transportation.
For more information, call the church at 632-2896 during business hours. |
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