Several Jefferson County churches and organizations will offer free Thanksgiving meals to those in need Thursday.
The James II Project will provide sit-down meals at The Salvation Army in Arnold. The Arnold Rotary Club will deliver more than 1,000 meals, but the deadline to sign up for that service has passed.
The High Ridge Rotary Club will provide both sit-down meals at the High Ridge Fire Protection District Station 1 and meal deliveries. The First Baptist Church of De Soto will offer carry-out and delivered meals.
The James II Project
Karin Kostich, founder and director of The James II Project, said the organization will provide a free Thanksgiving meal from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the multipurpose community room of The Salvation Army, 3740 Telegraph Road, just outside Arnold city limits.
Kostich said there is no registration required, but people may call 314-620-8365 for more information. She said the meal will include turkey, gravy, dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls and pie.
“Everyone is welcome,” she said.
Kostich said last year was the first year The James II Project served a Thanksgiving meal and about 80 people were served. She is expecting about 100 this year.
Kostich said The James II Project serves free meals at The Salvation Army on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at the United Methodist Church, 113 Grand Ave., Festus on Mondays.
Since Christmas falls on a Thursday, the group will also host Christmas dinner at The Salvation Army, she said.
High Ridge Rotary Club
The High Ridge Rotary Club will provide Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the High Ridge Fire Protection District Station 1, 2842 High Ridge Blvd., in High Ridge. High Ridge Rotary Club member Jerry Rogers said they have occasionally served a little longer.
“As long as we have food, we will serve,” he said.
This is the 19th year the club has organized the dinner, which includes turkey and all the homemade trimmings. He estimates they served 350 people last year.
“It’s all homemade,” he said. “We start out on Tuesday at 7 a.m. cooking the turkeys.”
The club can provide meal delivery and transportation to the station to residents along the Hwy. 30 corridor from Fenton to Dittmer. To request a meal delivery or transportation, call Jeff Queen at 636-535-3147 or Stacey Self at 314-422-5033.
First Baptist Church of De Soto
The First Baptist Church of De Soto, 2000 Grace Way, will provide free Thanksgiving meals through delivery and drive-thru on Thursday.
Lea Ann Null, the congregation’s ministry assistant, said anyone who wants delivery needs to register by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday by calling the church at 636-586-2500. Meals will only be delivered within the De Soto city limits. Meals will be delivered by 11 a.m. Thursday.
Drive-thru meals will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. Those wanting drive-thru meals do not need to pre-register. They will enter the church property from Hwy. 21 and exit on Boyd Street.
“It’s first come, first serve,” Null said.
She said people normally start lining up at about 11 a.m.
The church has been providing the dinner for at least 17 years. The church prepares 300 meals, which include turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, dinner rolls and desserts.
De Soto Community Center
If the First Baptist Church of De Soto has leftovers from its Thanksgiving meal, Ryan Hill said he will serve leftovers at the De Soto Community Center, 400 Boyd St., from 2-6 p.m. Thursday.
If there are no leftovers, he said, pizza and appetizers will be served.
“There will be food no matter what,” Hill said. “There will be board games and a movie.”
Hill is a recovering addict and a drug counselor for Chestnut Health Systems, which has opened an office in the Community Center. He said he did this last year and is doing it again to pay it forward.
He said it is for anyone looking for food and social support.
“It is open to anyone and everyone,” Hill said.