Local churches serve up Thanksgiving

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Posted November 19, 2021 | By Rosemarie Dowell
Correspondent

There are a couple of ugly and unwanted guests at many Thanksgiving tables this year.

Their names are inflation and isolation.

Rising food costs and the lingering pandemic have put the treasured meal in peril for area families, but churches and organizations are offering free Thanksgiving meals or food baskets to quell hungry bellies and hurting hearts during the holiday.

In Ocala, St. Paul’s AME church, 718 NW Seventh St., will distribute 300 food baskets with turkey and trimmings from 10 a.m. to Noon Saturday (Nov. 20). The giveaway is first-come, first-served, said the Rev. Jeffrey Dove, the church’s lead pastor.

“God has put so many things on my heart this year,” said Dove, pastor of the church for the past two years. “Inflation is up; gas and food prices are way up and people are having a hard time.”

“We want to bring relief to families by giving them a Thanksgiving meal,” he said. Following the basket distribution, the church will host a free concert with the quartet, “Just Us.” A hot meal will be served to members of the surrounding community as well.

Sponsors of the event include the education and social outreach organization, Reach, Aim, Motivate and Lead (R.A.M.A.L), Fort King Presbyterian Church, Cricket Wireless, and the Abercrombie law firm.

Also in Ocala, the Kings Embassy is hosting its Third Annual Grand Royale Community Feast from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 25) at the Ocala Police and Fire Department’s new campus, 615 MLK Jr. Blvd., Ocala. Besides a free meal, diners will be treated to music, dancing, and family fun.

“We usually don’t have it on Thanksgiving but so much has happened the past two years with the pandemic that we decided to have it on the actual holiday,” said Pastor Fulton Wilson. The meal is free and open to the public.

“People are tired and weary,” he said. “God just put it on my heart to have it on Thanksgiving and lighten their load a little bit.”

Other churches and organizations giving out food baskets, or hosting sit-down meals include:

• Second Chance Church, 13405 SE County Highway 484, Belleview will give away food baskets with everything needed to make a Thanksgiving meal, except the turkey, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 20).
• New Day Christian Fellowship will host its New Day Turkey Giveaway for residents of the Marion Oaks Community from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 20) at 13795 36th Avenue Road, Ocala.
• St. Mark’s United Methodist Church will distribute free Thanksgiving meals, including turkey and trimmings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 24) at the church, 1839 NE 8th Road, Ocala. Meals will be handed out via drive-through.
• The Salvation Army of Ocala and Marion County’s Center of Hope, 320 NW First Ave., Ocala, will host a free Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25. The meal, including turkey and all the trimmings, is open to members of the community.
• Brother’s Keeper Soup Kitchen, an outreach ministry of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church located at 435 NW Second St., Ocala, will serve a free Thanksgiving dinner, with all the trimmings, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25. The public is welcome to attend.