Several Jefferson County churches and organizations will offer free Thanksgiving meals to those in need this Thanksgiving, Nov. 28.
The Canaan Baptist Church-Windsor Campus in Imperial and the High Ridge Rotary Club will provide a sit-down dinner, as well as meal delivery for those who can’t make it to those locations. The High Ridge Rotary Club also will provide carry-outs.
The First Baptist Church of De Soto will offer carry-out and delivered meals, and the Arnold Rotary Club will deliver meals on Thanksgiving, but the deadline to sign up for that service has passed.
Canaan Baptist
Canaan Baptist Church-Windsor Campus will offer free Thanksgiving dinners at its facility, 6701 Hwy. 61-67, in Imperial, and will also deliver meals to those in need.
Pastor Bryan Davidson said the church will serve the meals from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“It’s for anyone to come in from the community. It’s really specifically designed for those who may be single, widows, homeless and those who are alone on Thanksgiving. But it is open for anyone from the community to be a part of,” Davidson said.
Meals will also be delivered during that time. The area for the deliveries is roughly from Arnold to Festus, he said.
Davidson said the church’s Thanksgiving meals include turkey, dressing, green beans, corn and dessert.
He said he expects the church will provide between 100 and 150 meals.
Davidson said the church asks people to make reservations at least one day in advance. To register for the dine-in or delivered meals, or for more information, call 636-646-9008.
“We welcome anyone who wants to come be a part of it. We would love to have them,” Davidson said.
High Ridge Rotary
The High Ridge Rotary Club will provide Thanksgiving dinners from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the High Ridge Fire Protection District Station 1, at 2842 High Ridge Blvd. in High Ridge.
High Ridge Rotary Club member Jerry Rogers said everyone is welcome at the dinner, and meal delivery and transportation to the station is available for residents along the Hwy. 30 corridor from Fenton to Dittmer.
To request meal delivery or transportation, call one of three available Rotarians: Rogers at 636-677-8903; Jeff Queen at 636-535-3147; or Stacey Self at 314-422-5033.
Rogers said about 200 people attend the dinner every year. This is the 18th year the Rotary Club has organized the dinner.
“It’s a fresh-prepared Thanksgiving Day dinner with all the fixings – turkey; stuffing; mashed potatoes and gravy; a couple of different veggies; rolls; and soft drinks, plus coffee,” Rogers said.
Rotarians gather at 6 a.m. on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to cook 18 turkeys for the free meal. In the afternoon, they have a “turkey jerk” where they debone all the turkeys.
“We certainly enjoy doing it,” Rogers said. “There’s a group of people that’s been coming to help for the entire 18 years we’ve had the Thanksgiving dinner.”
De Soto
First Baptist Church of De Soto will once again provide free Thanksgiving meals this year. The church, 2000 Grace Way, will offer drive-thru and delivered meals on Thanksgiving Day. However, no sit-down dinner will be held at the church.
Lea Ann Null, the congregation’s ministry assistant, said anyone who wants delivery should register by 4:30 p.m. today, Nov. 27, by calling the church at 636-586-2500. Meals will only be delivered within the De Soto city limits.
Null said volunteers will deliver all the meals by 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Drive-thru meals will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those wanting drive-thru meals should enter the church property from Hwy. 21.
Null said many people start lining up for the carry-out dinners at about 11 a.m.
The menu includes turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, dinner rolls and desserts.
She said the church has been providing the dinner for about 15 years and normally prepares 300 meals.