“We’re not opening our building to people coming in, but we’re going to line out the parking lot and have them drive thru and we’ll have the food bagged and handed to them depending on the number of meals they need,” said Pastor David Renfro of Evangel Church of God. They will also have a separate line for walkups as all are welcome.
Dinners will consist of turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and sweet potatoes placed in to-go containers and bagged for patrons.
Renfro said they expect record numbers this year but not solely because of the pandemic. “The reason we’re anticipating more is because the annual event at the Dayton Convention Center isn’t doing its annual Thanksgiving luncheon.”
Dinner will be handed out from noon to 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day in the church parking lot at 132 N. Smithville Road. For questions or more information call (937) 253-8342.
Other free meals for Thanksgiving include:
Miami Valley Meals
From 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 25 those in need of a meal or to see a friendly face can go to the University of Dayton Arena or to the Trotwood-Madison High School. Frozen meals will be served in single or family sizes in a drive-thru style. All are welcome to get a meal to-go holiday dinner with turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, a dinner roll, and a pumpkin dessert.
For more information visit https://miamivalleymeals.com/
House of Bread
The House of Bread, a community kitchen located at 9 Orth Ave. off West Riverview Avenue, will serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. They offer a hot meal everyday of the year and all are welcome. For more information, visit www.houseofbread.org or call 937-226-1520.
El Sombrero
Mexican restaurant, El Sombrero, will offer a traditional Thanksgiving day meal for the 26th year at 700 N. County Road 25A in Troy. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving day meals will be available for pick up in a two lane drive thru in the restaurant parking lot. Dinners will be bagged based on family sized and handed to patrons through the window. There will be no deliveries. All food that is left over will be donated to area food kitchens.
For more information, call 937-339-2100 or visit http://www.elsombrerotroy.com/
St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church
The church will hand out boxes of food for a Thanksgiving dinner for families to prepare. The boxes include a turkey and food for a family of four. The drive-up Thanksgiving food box giveaway is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at the church, 2262 N. Gettysburg Ave., Dayton. Families in need of food for the Thanksgiving holiday should register by calling the church at 937-279-9322.
Meals at Unity Banquet Center
The F.U.D.G.E. Foundation and The Entrepreneurs Shoppe have partnered together for a Thanksgiving meal giveaway from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 25. Around 2,000 meals will be given away at the Unity Banquet Center, 505 Bolander Ave. in Dayton. Donations can be dropped off at the The Entrepreneurs Shoppe at 1109 W. Third St., Dayton. The F.U.D.G..E Foundation was founded by Dion Greene, whose father was killed in the Oregon District massacre.
Turkey giveaway
With God’s Grace Food Pantry is giving away 1,000 turkeys starting at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19 in the Kroger parking lot at 1934 Needmore Road, Northridge. This is a drive-thru events. One turkey per household. Photo ID required. You must be present to receive a turkey.
Thanksgiving Drive-Up offered at Boys and Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Club of Dayton will hold a Thanksgiving Pandemic Pantry Drive-Up from 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 19. The club is located at 1828 W. Stewart St., Dayton.
DreamCity Church
In a partnership with Springfield nonprofit Hope, DreamCity Church will be serving a free traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. All are welcome to take food to go or stay and have a hot meal at the church located at 705 Linden Avenue in Springfield. Those opting to sit inside must wear a mask and follow proper social distancing guidelines. For more information call DreamCity Church at (937) 408-2555.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FREE THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY MEALS
Is your organization giving back to the community on Thanksgiving? Let us know via email @ india.duke@coxinc.com and we’ll add it to the list.
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