Thanksgiving dinners will be served this week by many church and service organizations throughout Garland County, despite recent challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some organizations will return to a traditional meal on location, while others will serve or deliver "to-go" meals, and some will be offering multiple options.
The Salvation Army of Hot Springs' director of social services, Joseph Micucci, said, "It's going to be sit down (meal) or you can take out, your choice," from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Turkey will be smoked by Smokin' In Style and served by Soul Star's Biker Club who are "going to carve the turkeys," Micucci said.
"We have about 15 volunteers, some are going to be from the Women's Auxiliary," Micucci said. "I think we can use probably about two or three more volunteers, but regardless if we get a few more, I think I think we do have enough to manage it."
Anyone interested in more information can call The Salvation Army at 501-623-1628.
Jackson House, 705 Malvern Ave., will serve meals from noon to 1 p.m. today through Thursday. For more information call 501-623-4048.
Gospel Light Baptist Church, 600 Garland Ave., will give out and deliver meals from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday.
"Every Thanksgiving, Gospel Light delivers meals to people who are working on Thanksgiving here in Hot Springs, or people who just need a Thanksgiving meal because maybe they just can't afford it or they're homebound and they can't get out," Carie Bechel, secretary to Pastor Eric Capaci, said.
"So we take delivery ... people call their order in," she said. "And then on Thanksgiving Day, we have a bunch of volunteers that come and take those hot plates of food out to the people who requested them. And then people are also welcome to come in and get a plate and sit down or take it to, go whatever they prefer."
Bechel said the meal "consists of turkey, gravy, dressing, and then usually like corn, green beans, and a roll. And then we also give them a slice of pie to go with it."
Anyone interested in more information can email Gospel Light at [email protected] or call 501-624-5288.
Grand Avenue United Methodist, 841 Quapaw Ave., will offer its Annual Community Thanksgiving Meal from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, according to their monthly newsletter, "featuring traditional Thanksgiving turkey, dressing, sides, and dessert. Open to all."
"We will have a to-go meal served from our Quapaw doors," Chris Headley, church treasurer, said.
"We're doing to-go meals. In the past we had done sit-down meals," Tonja Bolding, church Thanksgiving coordinator said, noting last year was their first time offering to-go meals.
"And when we had to make the decisions, in our planning, we were just afraid that the Garland County numbers might go back up. And so we wanted to go ahead and do to-go again, so that we didn't risk not being able to provide meals this year," Bolding said. "We'll have turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, and dessert."
Anyone interested in more information can call the church at 501-623-5626.
The Giving Team Inc. will hold its 17th Annual Thanksgiving to Share, according to Janice Davis, founder and president. It is sponsored by The Giving Team Inc., Davis and Community Helpers, and Historic Visitors Chapel AME Church.
"Grab-and-go" or delivery will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the church at 317 Church St.
Anyone interested in more information can call 501-385-2813 or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VisitorsChapelAmeChurch/.
Samaritan Ministries, 131 Sanford St., will serve a sit-down meal from noon to 1 p.m. Friday.
"We actually are going to have them come in, sit down. And we'll be serving them this year," Jan Laggan, co-founder and executive director of Samaritan Ministries, said. "We also will have gently used clothing and what we call blessing bags, which are personal care items that will be given also."
Anyone interested in more information can call 501-321-2888.