The Poplar Place in Centralia will provide a free Thanksgiving Dinner to anyone who wants to participate on Thanksgiving Day.
One of those who founded the program 19 years ago, Mimi Hawkins, expects over 1,000 meals to be served this year, up from 900 last year, as a result of other Thanksgiving Day programs being discontinued.
“19 years ago we were at the Poplar Place and myself and several friends were talking about how many places we had to be on Thanksgiving and then started thinking about people that didn’t have any place to go. So we decided we were going to have a meal every year for people who don’t have a place to go or want to make a turkey to help them get their holiday’s started off right.”
Hawkins says you are invited to dine in at the Poplar Place from eleven to two on Thanksgiving Day. You may also call in to set up pickup orders from 1 to 5 both Tuesday and Wednesday. Hawkins says the signup is needed so they know how much food to prepare. The number to call to arrange a pickup dinner is (618) 532-1747.
Hawkins says donations and volunteer help are great once again this year.
