The Arnold Rotary Club has received a quicker response than in recent years from people asking to receive Thanksgiving meals, club member Steve Smith said.
The Rotary Club delivers free meals to people who live in the Fox C-6 or Windsor C-1 school districts on Thanksgiving, which is on Nov. 26. Volunteers prepare and deliver 1,000 meals each year.
On Oct. 28, Smith said 628 people had registered to receive a meal. He said many who signed up to receive meals were told about the program, which is in its 10th year, through the school districts, Brendan’s Friday Backpacks and Gateway Food Pantry.
“We are moving along pretty quickly this year,” he said. “We are seeing a faster registration this year.”
Reservations for meal delivery must be made by Wednesday, Nov. 18. Reservations may be made by calling 314-690-5793 or by going to the club’s Facebook page and scanning a QR code.
Smith said about 150 volunteers help prepare, assemble and deliver meals, and the club needs about 40 teams to make deliveries.
The meals are ham, dressing, potatoes and gravy, green beans, a roll and pie. Each meal is premade and individually packaged.
Smith said volunteers begin the day at about 7 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Arnold’s Family Life Center, 2012 Missouri State Road, and are finished by about 11 a.m. Meals are delivered between 10:30-11 a.m.
“It is phenomenal,” Smith said of the number of volunteers. “People want to help. They are very generous, whether it is donating pies, helping assemble the meals or delivering.
“At one time, we were concerned about having enough volunteers. Now, we have many people who plan to do this every year.”
Smith said pie donations are one of the biggest needs every year.
He said donated pies must be purchased prepackaged from a store and ready to serve.
The club cannot accept homemade or frozen pies. Smith said people may donate pies from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, at the First Baptist Church of Arnold’s Family Life Center.
“A lot of people donate pies that will feed a family of four to six people, and that is great,” Smith said. “We have a fair amount of meals that go to individuals and elderly couples, and we have started to encourage people to purchase individual pies, too.”
For more information about the Thanksgiving meal program or to volunteer to help, call the Rotary Club at calling 314-690-5793.