In 10 years, the Community Thanksgiving Dinner held each November in First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall has fed around 12,000 people, according to an organizer. However, the 2025 dinner — for the first time since COVID halted the popular luncheon for two years — has been cancelled due to unanticipated developments.
“Unforeseen circumstances caused us to have to cancel it, it just wasn’t possible this year. We’ve had a lot of people in our church sick, and we’re all getting older!” said Lou Summers, adding a chuckle. “But we will definitely be having it next year; it’s OK for next year, this year it’s just not good.”
Cheryl Worley with annual sponsor Faith, Hope and Charity Recycle Store reported 698 meals were served last year.
“We count plates; but then we also fed the fire department, Promise Land and Isaiah House (rehab ministries), Elsie Gillem (Home) and we count how many are there (at the dinner) as well,” added Summers. “We send enough to Promise Land and Isaiah House that we could feed them two or three times. So, that’s how we come up with our numbers, but the bulk of it is still done at First Baptist.”
Summers was asked how many people have been fed by the Community Thanksgiving Dinner in its decade of service.
“Oh gosh, every year it grew!” she exclaimed. “I can tell you the first year we started off and we fed 250 people that actually came, but we also fed 242 volunteers. But, there was also one year where we fed 1,600 people, so I would say we’ve fed maybe 12,000 people in the 10 years. So, it’s been record numbers.”
Summers said eight local churches provide dozens of volunteers for the day of serving the meal that is available for anyone who wants to come and be fed, no strings attached. Worley said the dinner is a gift of appreciation from Faith, Hope and Charity to the community.
Several people commented on the Times-Courier Facebook and Messenger formats about this year’s cancellation of the popular meal.
“That is sad considering people are doing without their SNAP (funds),” said Stephanie Dale Allen. “This year could have been the best year yet.”
“That’s so sad,” lamented Romelia Roney. “I know there’s a lot of people who look forward to it because they have nowhere else to go. Our family tradition of many years is to bring in people who may be alone on that special day. Some are alone due to illness or distance or even estrangement. This year, it was still unknown who would have joined our table and given thanks. We always plan to present to our gathering a question: What have you learned this year that benefited your personal growth?”
Jessica M. Bramlett posted, “Maybe we can find an alternative. As a volunteer last year, I saw firsthand how it blessed so many. I will be happy to help if another solution arises.”