Thanksgiving is the one time family and friends gather to enjoy a traditional turkey dinner and all its trimmings. But hundreds of area residents don’t have a place to enjoy the fellowship.
For the past two decades, the Kokomo Rescue Mission has provided a turkey dinner to the homeless and those local residents with no family in the area to enjoy the day.
Beginning next Wednesday, in conjunction with Kokomo Urban Outreach, more than 2,500 meals are expected to be served at 12 sites around Howard County.
Kokomo Urban Outreach will be providing meals at 11 locations from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, and the Kokomo Rescue Mission will provide a meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, at Grace United Methodist Church.
There will be a community Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tipton County 4-H Building. The event is sponsored by area churches, civic organizations, local businesses, the Tipton County Foundation and Tipton Lions Club.
People interested in assisting with the Tipton food preparation should contact Kevin Porter at 675-8616. To volunteer to serve food and cleanup people should contact Tom Miller at 675-3380.
Sally Ripley, director of development for the Kokomo Rescue Mission, said a lot of the food already has been prepared. She said turkeys started to be cooked in late September and early October.
“A lot of volunteers have already signed up,” Ripley said of the effort that is expected to feed between 700 and 800 people on Thanksgiving Day. “We need volunteers to deliver meals.”
To volunteer to help deliver meals, people should call 456-3838 and ask for Anna. To have a meal delivered, people should call the same number.
Ripley said the Rescue Mission needs canned green beans and corn for the meal.
The Rescue Mission is helping Kokomo Urban Outreach with food for Nov. 21. Applications will be accepted for the Red Ribbon Christmas boxes at the 11 Outreach locations.
Pam Groham, administrative assistant for Kokomo Urban Outreach, said the organization is in need of another 80 pounds of turkey, pies and desserts. People wanting to make a donation are asked to call 457-1983 or deliver their items to 1701 S. Locke St. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Monday through Wednesday.
Groham said donations of turkeys are needed by this Friday.
“There is a lot of need right now,” she said of the expected 2,500 meals to be served.
If you go:
The Kokomo Rescue Mission will serve Thanksgiving dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thanksgiving Day at Grace UMC, 219 W. Mulberry St.
Kokomo Urban Outreach will serve Thanksgiving dinners at the following locations from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21:
• Bon Air Church of the Nazarene, 2419 N. Locke St.
• Briarwick Apartments, 536 Southlea Drive.
• Carpenter’s House Church, 37 W. 550 North.
• Crossroads Church, 4254 S. 00 East/ West.
• Fresh Start Ministries, 801 W. Mulberry St.
• Trinity UMC, 1701 S. Locke St.
• Main Street UMC, 830 S. Main St.
• Parr UMC, 1135 N. Wabash Ave.
• Pine Valley Apartments, 100 W. 300 South.
• Riley Modern Estates Lot 144.
• Trinity Wesleyan, West Middleton.
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