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 at the Methodist Family Ministry Center, 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. Those who help provide the meal come from many different area churches, and last year some university students who needed community service hours also helped serve.
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 enjoy, whether by eating in, taking away or by delivery. Volunteers can also pick up anyone who would like to eat at the church but needs transportation.
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 and riding around town to see who is having to work on Thanksgiving Day, to spontaneously offer them a dinner plate.
“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 wants to make sure everyone around him has the chance to enjoy it.
While walk-ins are welcome, the church would appreciate everyone who wants this free Thanksgiving meal to call 850-997-5545 ahead of time.