Throughout the area, free Thanksgiving meals offered to less for

By Mindy Honey
Society Editor
Originally published Nov. 25, 2009

Many area organizations and ministries throughout the Tri-Lakes Area will offer free Thanksgiving Day dinners.

On Thursday, Christian Action Ministries, along with Showtime Catering and Circle B Supper Show, has partnered to feed 1,000 people. The free event will serve a home-style Thanksgiving meal to those who otherwise would not have one. Tickets are still available.

The meal consists of turkey, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied yams, green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner roll and pumpkin pie.

For more information, call Christian Action Ministries at 417-334-1157.

Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen on Missouri 248, next to Country Mart, will once again serve a complimentary traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner.

The dinner, which is open to everyone, will be served from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday.

LifeSong United Methodist Church and the Sunrise Grille & Cafe in Reeds Spring will offer a free dinner Thanksgiving Day also. The dinner will be served from 1-3 p.m. at the Sunrise Grille in Reeds Spring. The traditional meal will include turkey and all the trimmings.

Jesus Was Homeless, an organization that delivers more than 300 sack lunches every Thursday to people living in weekly-rental units in the Branson area, will offer free a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner at the Boys and Girls Club of the Ozarks in Branson.

The dinner is targeted toward people who are homeless, living in weekly-rental hotels or those who would be alone on Thanksgiving.

“A lot of the people we deliver sack lunches to are the working poor in Branson,” said founder Bryan Stallings. “It is a way of saying thanks to them.”

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30. Not only will the dinner be free, but coats, winter items, care packages and blankets will also be given out.

On Wednesday evening, Ozark Mountain Community Church in Blue Eye will host a community Thanksgiving dinner at 6 p.m. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner will include turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy and dressing provided by the church. Side dishes and desserts will be brought by church members.

Also on Wednesday, Bridge of Faith Community Church in Rockaway Beach is planning a free community dinner at the Community Center in Rockaway Beach. The Thanksgiving-style dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

“It is really a time we encourage families to be together,” said the Rev. Jonathan McGuire.