A handful of Jefferson County churches and organizations will offer free Thanksgiving meals to those in need on the holiday, Nov. 23.
Both the Canaan Baptist Church in Imperial and the High Ridge Rotary Club will offer 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 Church
Canaan Baptist Church-Windsor Campus, formerly Windsor Baptist Church, will offer traditional Thanksgiving dinners at its facility, 6701 Hwy. 61-67, in Imperial.
The church, which changed its name in June when Pastor Bryan Davidson arrived, will serve the meals from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Meals also will be delivered during that time.
“We’re focusing on the homebound, singles – people who are shut-ins or those who really can’t afford a Thanksgiving meal,” Davidson said. “But, all people are welcome (to have the meals at the church or delivered to their homes.)”
The area for the deliveries is roughly from Arnold south through Pevely, he said.
“The deliveries are mainly for the homebound, but we don’t turn anyone away,” Davidson said.
He said the church’s Thanksgiving meals include “vegetables, dressing, turkey and a dessert.”
“We expect to provide meals for 100 to 150 people,” Davidson said.
Davidson said the church asks people to make a reservation by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22.
“We request for people to make reservations, but we won’t turn anyone away,” he said.
To register for the dine-in or the delivered meals or for more information, call 636-464-9008.
Davidson said the church also will hold the annual live nativity scene this holiday season.
He said the congregation is still working on details for this year’s live nativity scene.
High Ridge Rotary Club
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.
Deliveries also are available.
Everyone is welcome, but people must register to participate for dine-in, delivery or carry-out by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, by calling 636-677-8903.
“Anyone may participate,” said Jerry Rogers of the High Ridge Rotary Club. “They just come through the front door (of the Fire Station) and receive a traditional turkey dinner, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce and desserts of cookies, cake or pie. It’s all home-cooked food.”
He said the delivery area for the meals is more or less 4 to 5 miles on either side of the Hwy. 30 corridor from Fenton to Dittmer.
First Baptist Church De Soto
First Baptist Church De Soto will provide carry-out or delivered Thanksgiving Day meals from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. from the church, 2000 Grace Way, De Soto. There will be sit-down dinner at the church.
Those who want carry-out meals are to enter the church grounds from Hwy. 21 for curb-side service.
Meals may be delivered to those who live within or near the De Soto city limits.
Participants must call to register by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22. To register, call 636-586-2500.
“We have people doing delivery and some people will come here to get the meals,” said Lee Ann Null, the congregation’s ministry assistant. “It’s for anyone. We don’t ask any questions. They simply call and tell us they want a dinner or dinners.”
She said First Baptist Church De Soto has provided free Thanksgiving meals for more than a decade.
“We have done this at least 14 or 15 years,” Null said. “We’ve done about 300 meals a year at previous Thanksgivings.”
The menu includes turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, dinner rolls and desserts, she said.
Arnold Rotary Club
The Arnold Rotary Club once again is delivering free Thanksgiving dinners, but the deadline to register for the program was Nov. 13.
The annual effort provides 1,000 meals to people who live in the Fox C-6 and Windsor C-1 school districts. Club members and volunteers prepare the meals at First Baptist Church of Arnold.