Bethel community Thanksgiving next week

Bethel Baptist Church in Graham is hosting its 36th annual community Thanksgiving meal next week welcoming all for friendship and fellowship.

The free meal will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 23 at the church’s Family Life Center at 209 Tennessee St. Options are available for dine-in, take-out or delivery by calling the church at 940-549-0619. Meals can be requested for others who may have a need.

According to member Roma Brightman, the church is planning for 625-650 meals to be served. She said the amount served increases each year.

“The (community) meals were started for people who couldn’t afford to prepare a traditional meal, but changed over the years to include anyone who couldn’t or didn’t want to, for any reason, they could bring their family and spend time visiting instead of cooking and cleaning,” she said.

The meal will be turkey, homemade dressing and gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, salad, cranberry sauce, rolls and desserts.

The Young County Sheriff's Office and various local businesses donated to the meal this year. Monetary donations are accepted but not required at the event.

Brightman said volunteers are essential to the success of the event each year. For more information about the event, or to sign up to volunteer, call the church at 940-549-0619.

“It is a lot of labor and we appreciate our volunteers very much, especially clean-up crew,” Brightman said.