Dalton residents worried about their Thanksgiving meal will have some options again this year.
The Concerned Citizens of Dalton, Harvest Outreach and Providence Ministries will all host free Thanksgiving meals — turkey and dressing and sides — on Thursday, Nov. 28, for the community as each has done for many years. And the Gratefull community meal will also be offered again, on Monday, Nov. 25.
The Concerned Citizens of Dalton will serve meals at the Mack Gaston Community Center, 218 N. Fredrick St. in Dalton, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“You are welcome to sit down and eat here with us, or you can get a plate to go,” said Horace Moore, co-founder and the current president of Concerned Citizens.
The group has been serving Thanksgiving meals for 25 years. Moore said last year the group served a little over 300 meals.
Harvest Outreach offers a Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Legion Post 112, 1118 N. Glenwood Ave. in Dalton. The meals will be carry-out only.
Harvest Outreach Executive Director Shelia Reed said this will be the 38th year the organization has presented the meal.
“We focus on the homeless and the elderly, but everyone is welcome to come and get a meal,” she said. “I’m really thankful to the American Legion for letting us use their building and for the local churches and businesses that support us.”
The organization served about 600 meals last year.
Providence Ministries offers its Thanksgiving meal from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its headquarters at 711 S. Hamilton St. in Dalton. The meals will be primarily to-go, but Providence will open up some space for people to eat.
The ministry has been serving Thanksgiving meals for more than 30 years.
Representatives of these groups said that even with the booming economy there are people who can’t afford Thanksgiving dinner as well as people who don’t have anyone to have dinner with.
In addition to the Thanksgiving Day meals, the free Gratefull community meal will take place Monday, Nov. 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Hamilton Street between the Burr Performing Arts Park and the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce headquarters. The goal of the meal is to bring together people who live and work in Whitfield County. This year, Believe Greater Dalton is once again partnering with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank for the Gratefull Give-Back. Those who attend the meal are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the food bank.