Providing a hot meal for those in need is a calling for many in Leflore County as Thanksgiving Day approaches.
On Wednesday, Greenwood’s Community Kitchen will host its annual Thanksgiving dinner beginning at 11:30 a.m.
The kitchen, located at 200 E. Johnson St., will feed more than 175 people, said Carlee Bailey, the kitchen’s director.
This year’s dinner is made possible with the assistance of Greenwood attorney Angela T. Kimbrough.
In Itta Bena, also at 11 a.m. Wednesday, free dinners will be distributed from the city’s L.T. Brazil Center as part of the “Feed My Sheep Thanksgiving Dinner.”
The dinner is sponsored by Teresa and Eric Mitchell, owners of the Capricorn Internet Cafe, located in Itta Bena.
“It’s something we started last year. We served over 100 meals,” said Teresa Mitchell.
This year, they plan to feed as many as 200 people, she said.
Residents may dine at the Brazil Center, pick up their dinners to go or have them delivered to their homes.
Mitchell said if people call the cafe in advance at 254-0333, they will be able to make sure there will be enough meals on hand. She said last year’s program was so successful that people continued calling after Thanksgiving requesting dinners.
Although the effort is geared toward Itta Bena residents, people who live outside the town are also welcome to take part, she said.
“This is our way of giving back to the community,” Mitchell said.
On Thursday, beginning at 11 a.m., a family that wishes to remain anonymous will provide up to 200 meals to Greenwood residents at the J&R Multipurpose Building, 1703 Carrollton Ave., according to one organizer.
Most dinners will be carry-out, but there will be a limited number of tables at the building where people can eat from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On Monday, Carolyn Davis Ministries donated 104 bags of groceries to needy families. The items included a variety of cake mixes, vegetables and rice.
“Each bag has something different,” Davis said.
The need is great this holiday season, she said. The distribution effort was set to begin at 10 a.m., but people started showing up around 8:30 a.m. at the ministry, located at 207 Fulton St.
“It’s been a steady flow,” Davis said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
