Spirit of Thanksgiving alive as communities prepare meals

MARIETTA - Those looking for a place to enjoy fellowship and a meal at no cost on Thanksgiving Day can visit one of several locations in Washington County.

For the fourth year in a row, Jukebox Pizza in Waterford will serve a Thanksgiving Day lunch that's more feast than lunch.

Thursday's menu will include turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, dinner rolls, green beans, noodles and stuffing.

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Photo by Sharon Bopp
Vickie Insley, a member of Norwood United Methodist Church, stacks supplies for the church’s free Thanksgiving Day feast Tuesday.

"It's all homemade and fresh made," said manager Tyson Powers. "We cook it here."

"We've already started cooking. For the last week or so it's been pretty hectic in here," he said.

There's pie for dessert; all donated by community members and staffers.

On Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jukebox Pizza will be filled with food and from 25 to 30 volunteers there to serve the 250 to 275 folks they hope to feed this year.

"We've grown every year," Powers said. "Last year we had 225 to 250 people. We're hoping to bump it up just a little more."

Jukebox Pizza will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2013, and Powers said he appreciates what people in the Waterford area have done to support the business.

"It's a good way to give back to our community," he said. "And there's nothing like the Beverly-Waterford community."

Community and Christian spirit are two reasons behind the free Thanksgiving Day feast being held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Norwood United Methodist Church in Marietta.

"As a Christian congregation we not only serve our own members but also we are in service to the community as a whole," said pastor Stacy Evans.

Tom Insley, church member and chairman of the committee organizing the dinner that has been held at the church 14 years, was in agreement.

"There are a lot of people out there who don't have anything and really don't have a Thanksgiving dinner," Insley said.

This year's feast will include a choice of ham or turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, dressing, rolls, pumpkin pie and tea or coffee.

Insley thanked Food 4 Less in Marietta, which will prepare the turkey, ham, rolls and pumpkin pies at no cost to Norwood United Methodist Church.

In addition, the Marietta Shoney's will donate instant mashed potatoes for the meal.

The cost for this year's meal is expected to be $1,300 to $1,400, according to Insley. About 20 area churches will help cover the cost.

On Thanksgiving, about 30 volunteers will help serve at the church and prepare meals for delivery.

Some volunteers are families with children.

"It teaches them about giving not just receiving," Insley said. "Then, they'll leave and have their own Thanksgiving dinner."

Norwood United Methodist Church usually delivers between 250 and 300 meals and serves between 150 and 200 meals during the feast, said Insley.

"We'll deliver wherever. Last year we went as far as Beverly and all the way up to New Matamoras," he said.

In Williamstown, American Legion General George Post 159 began hosting its annual community free Thanksgiving Dinner in 2004 and the tradition has continued every year.

Volunteers from the Post, the Auxiliary, Sons of American Legion and the community share the "reason for the season" by preparing and serving the free Thanksgiving buffet that is open to members of Post 159 and residents of Williamstown School District.

The meals are served from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday. Anyone wishing to share Thanksgiving by donating food items or helping prep, serve or clean up can contact Post 159 at 304-375-5997.