Thanks to the efforts of local businesses, churches, individuals and nonprofits, several area families in need will receive free Thanksgiving meals this week.
Today, Radcliff’s Sign of the Dove Church will provide more than 100 baskets of turkey, meatloaf and side dishes to area families in the second Terry G. Dill Sr. Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway from the church. The church has traditionally held a free in-person meal at the church since 1997, but operations have been changed due to COVID-19. The church hopes to host an in-person meal again next year, according to Pastor Edward Palmer.
Palmer said more than 100 families who will be receiving meals today have been identified in cooperation with school family resource centers in the area. He said Lowe’s in Elizabethtown was a major sponsor of this year’s event, providing 100 turkeys and containers for the baskets, as well as gift cards.
Families in the area will be collecting baskets at church today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additionally, the church is working with officers from the Elizabethtown Police Department, Radcliff Police Department and Vine Grove Police Department to deliver packed lunches in “strengthening some police-community relationship.” , Palmer said.
On Tuesday, Maria Bell, owner of Radcliff Chef Maria’s Kitchen and local non-profit Be the Change, will host a Thanksgiving meal at her restaurant, located at 661 South Wilson Road. Scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., meals will be served free of charge and on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals will include turkey or ham, sides, dessert and drink.
After 4:30 p.m., Bell said she would also start delivering meals with the volunteers.
Anyone needing a meal can pre-register by visiting bit.ly/3CCadZJ. Additionally, those wishing to donate food to the initiative or volunteer on Tuesday can call Bell at 502-821-0275.
Bell said any donated non-perishable food not used for meals will be added to its community-wide “blessing boxes”, which are regularly stocked with food and are available to anyone who needs or needs it. feels inclined to add to them. Bell said she hopes to have 11 boxes in the community by the end of December and possibly exceed 100 boxes.
“We are going to bring down hunger a lot in Hardin County,†she said.
Another Radcliff company is also planning to provide free Thanksgiving meals this week. Who Dat Wingz & Po-Boy, located at 865 South Dixie Boulevard, will offer meals featuring turkey, ham, rice dressing, macaroni and cheese, yams, sweet peas, collard greens, cake and a drink on Thanksgiving day from noon to 6 p.m.
The event will be owner Tyrone Brown Williams’ second Thanksgiving giveaway since he opened the restaurant last year. A native of Louisiana who regularly hosts free community meals in the town of Thibodaux, Williams said some of his Bayou state family will be driving to help with the effort.
Williams says he plans to provide 500 meals at this year’s event. In addition to distributing meals in his restaurant, he also plans to deliver meals to the elderly in the neighborhood.
Those interested in donating turkey, ham or canned food or volunteering for the effort can call 270-319-8257. Monetary donations can be made to Williams’ Cash App account, @ Tyrone23Brown.
“There are a lot of people in need, you just don’t know what they’re going through,†Williams said.
Also on Thanksgiving Day, more than 800 meals are expected to be distributed throughout the community thanks to a collaboration between Helping Hand of Hope and several churches in the area. Meals will be delivered and available to take out at St. James Catholic School, located at 401 Robinbrooke Boulevard in Elizabethtown from noon to 1:30 p.m.
An annual effort, this year’s meal will include turkey, salad dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, a bun, pumpkin pie and milk, according to organizer Cheri Ellis-Reeves. Churches involved in this year’s event include St. James Catholic Church, First Christian Church, United Methodist Memorial Church, First Presbyterian Church, Christ Episcopal Church, House of Prayer Lutheran Church, St. Christopher Parish and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
The mission is also supported by Adaptive Sportsmen of Kentucky, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, the Hardin County Schools Early College and Career Center, Bluegrass Meats & Catering and other community volunteers, Ellis-Reeves said.
Those interested in donating food or funds or volunteering for the event can contact Ellis-Reeves at [email protected] or text or call him at 270-268-6246.
Andrew Critchelow can be contacted at 270-505-1413 or [email protected].
