Pam Mills and Debra Peters give out Thanksgiving meals Sunday at the Hope Mission on Lynn Street in Parkersburg where the mission provides a monthly carryout community meal event. This month’s was with a Thanksgiving menu that included turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green beans, pumpkin pie and a dinner roll. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The Hope Mission at 1300 Lynn St. each month hosts a meal giveaway and distribution of hygiene products for those in need.

But this Sunday, the event took on a special Thanksgiving theme.

“We do this every month, but Thanksgiving is always a little extra special,” said Pastor Aaron Jones. “We want to make sure everyone in our community has a warm meal and the basic necessities, especially during the holiday season.”

The mission provides a meal giveaway on the last Sunday of the month. Along with the hot meal, the mission also distributes hygiene products like toothpaste and deodorant.

Jones said the mission aims to reach out to the community, especially those who are homeless or struggling with addictions, not just to provide physical nourishment, but also spiritual nourishment.

Volunteers at the Hope Mission at 1300 Lynn St. on Sunday prepare Thanksgiving meals as the mission held its monthly carryout community meal event. Meals included turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green beans, pumpkin pie and a dinner roll. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“It’s so much more than just a meal,” Jones said. “We want to nourish the whole person, body and soul. That’s what this is all about.”

On Sunday, the mission provided a full Thanksgiving meal that included turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and dessert. In addition to the hot meal, it also handed out essential hygiene items.

Around 15 volunteers from the mission’s weekly services helped prepare and distribute the meals and products, Jones said. Outreach is a crucial part of the mission’s work to support those in need and that they rely heavily on donations from the community to make these events possible, and they’re currently running low on hygiene supplies, he said.

For those looking to donate items, go to the Hope Mission’s Facebook page at fb/me/myonlyhopeisjesus.com or call 740 336-9046.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentineil.com.

Volunteers at the Hope Mission, 1300 Lynn St., distribute water Sunday during the mission’s monthly carryout community meal event. This Sunday the mission prepared Thanksgiving dinners that included turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green beans, pumpkin pie and a dinner roll. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)