Thursday, Nov. 24, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Any and all who are near Monticello on Thanksgiving Day are invited to partake of the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, provided at no charge by the First United Methodist Church, located at 390 W. Walnut St. Local volunteers will be cooking up 41 turkeys weighing 21 pounds or more, along with all the traditional fixin's and tasty seasonal desserts.
Dean Jerger, who started this ministry of the church many years ago, expects to serve up about 1,000 meals again this year. They will be available for anyone to walk in and enjoy in the Family Ministry Center and can also be ordered in advance for pick-up or delivery. Even those planning to eat their dinner on site can order ahead and have their meal already plated up and waiting for them.
Take-out orders will be ready at 11 a.m., and eat-in service begins at 11:30 a.m. Jerger says that his crew will also be making deliveries to homes, taking dinners to the local prison as well as the prison in Gadsden County. In addition, they'll ride around town to see who is having to work on Thanksgiving Day and spontaneously offer them a dinner plate as well.
“Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year when you share a meal with family and friends,” says Jerger. That's why he started the Community Thanksgiving Dinner, and why he want to make sure everyone around him has the chance to enjoy it.
To order ahead, call (850) 997-5545, or simply arrive at the church at 11:30 a.m. and sit down to enjoy this generously prepared feast.