There will be two free Thanksgiving Dinners served in Centralia this year.
The Poplar Place at 323 North Poplar will host their 18th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner from 11 to two on Thursday. Your invited along with your family to join in person for a complimentary traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. Dine-In and Carry-Out will be available with no reservations. If you need delivery, Tuesday is the deadline to call the Poplar Place at (618) 532-1747. Calls will be accepted from one to five. 800 dinners were prepared last year, but they are anticipating 900 to attend this year. 40 turkeys and 20 hams are being prepared for the dinner. Volunteers join the Poplar Place staff in making the annual Thanksgiving Day meal possible.
The City Hope Church will once again be preparing Thanksgiving Dinners as well. City Hope Church Executive Pastor Nicole Lyon says they are thankful to Centralia Junior High to allow their facility to be used to cook the meals. They are available for delivery or pickup only. You are asked to make a reservation at (618) 533-3349 Tuesday (today) if you would like a dinner. The dinners are free, but donations are accepted. Lyons estimates 60 people will be involved in making the meals. 400 were served last year and they have plenty of food to increase that number this year.
The free Thanksgiving Dinner that has been held the last few years in Salem will not this year due to family obligations of the organizers. However, they plan to have the event return next year.
