Published: November 21, 2007 08:27 am      

No need to be alone this Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is meant to be a time for people to come together, and two local churches are making sure that no one has to be alone this holiday.

Rosedale Baptist Church in Richmond and Berea United Methodist Church in Berea both are providing Thanksgiving dinners Thursday to anyone who wants to come.

“It starts around 3 p.m. Thursday and it is a potluck,” said Lea Schultz, administrative assistant at Berea United Methodist. “People are welcome to bring their favorite Thanksgiving dishes — desserts, sides, even a turkey if they want — and we’ll just all sit down and feast.”

However, church member Laura Warren, who is coordinating the event, said if people don’t have anything to bring, they should come anyway.

“It was designed for people who aren’t going to be with anybody at Thanksgiving, partially, and also for those who aren’t going to have a Thanksgiving for one reason or another,” Warren said.

The day will be a social time and depending on how many children are there, Warren said she hopes to have some crafts available.

“It started several years back,” Warren said about the event. “Berea is a college town and there are a lot of us who are from other places. And so a lot of us couldn’t go home or couldn’t get to family, and rather than spending the day with ourselves or our own little families — I have two little kids — it’s a lot more fun to be with a lot of people.”

Rosedale’s program began in a similar fashion, said church member Robin Hensley.

“Basically we just started it because people just are lonely on Thanksgiving for various reasons, or have a need on Thanksgiving,” she said. “They either don’t have a family or not any close by. A lot of people think it’s just for poor people, but it is not always just for poor people. It is for everybody. Anybody who has a need.”

Dinner will begin at noon on Thursday in the fellowship hall of Rosedale at 411 Westover St. There is no cost to participate in either dinner.

“Deliveries are available and pick-up is available,” Hensley said. “If people don’t have a way to get here, we would be glad to give them a ride.”

Last year, Hensley said the church fed about 125 people, the biggest crowd in the seven or eight years the church has been preparing a meal.

“Everything will be provided,” she said. “We will have turkey and ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn — just your typical Thanksgiving dinner.”

Berea United Methodist’s dinner also will be conducted in the fellowship hall of the church at 101 Fee St. in Berea. Warren said it is not necessary to call and reserve a seat, “especially if they’re bringing food!”

“Right now we have three turkeys, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, a couple pies — and that’s just the stuff we know about in advance,” Warren said. “That’s part of the fun of potluck. You never know what you’re going to eat.”

Kelly Foreman can be reached at kforeman@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.



Where to go:

Rosedale Baptist Church

411 Westover St., Richmond

Dinner at 3 p.m. in the fellowship hall

For details, call 623-1771

Free



Berea United Methodist Church

101 Fee St., Berea

Dinner at noon in the fellowship hall

For details, call 986-3485

Free, potluck