Hundreds of plates of turkey, dressing, vegetables and dessert are expected to be made at Pembroke United Methodist Church on Thanksgiving Day and handed out to ensure that less fortunate North Bryan residents have a hot meal to enjoy.
Known as the Thanksgiving Outreach Program, volunteers and church members have been offering this service for nearly 20 years, program organizer Annette Bacon said. Last year the program gave out around 300 meals to North Bryan residents in need, and she expects this year to be no different.
“I think we’ve got between 150 and 175 meals already going out,” Bacon said.
The church receives names from the United Way of Bryan County’s Shepherd’s Supper program and from other area churches to find residents in need, Bacon said. The program also delivers hot meals to senior citizens living at McFadden Place Apartments.
It takes around 14 turkeys and 10 to 12 pans of dressing along with various vegetables and desserts to make up the meals, Bacon said. Local businesses usually donate canned goods to the cause, she said, and church and community members will convene at the church Thanksgiving morning around 6 a.m. to begin preparing the meals.
Something different with the program this year is that the church has partnered with the city to gather even more canned goods.
The Pembroke Downtown Development Authority is hosting an evening farmers market from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, and all vendor fees will go toward purchasing turkeys for the cause.
Following the market will be a concert performance by Christian recording artists King’s Cross, the admission for which will be canned goods that will be donated to the outreach program.
Read more in the Nov. 16 edition of the News.