A feast of thanks

November 17, 2020

by Staff reports

Holiday fixin’s

Rusk Police Chief Stephen Hughes dishes up turkey and dressing Tuesday, during the annual Rusk Community Thanksgiving luncheon. Volunteers – such as City Secretary Cinda Etheridge (center left) and RPD Detective Nate Acker – prepare and serve the meal, which is free to diners. The Rusk luncheon is the first of several Thanksgiving community meals held in Cherokee County. See story on Page 1 for a list of other holiday meals. Photo by Jo Anne Embleton

Citizens throughout the country are planning communal Thanksgiving feasts as they prepare to celebrate the holiday, with several planned in Cherokee County.

A free community luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at St. Paul Baptist Church, 558 N. Main St. in Jacksonville. The meal is sponsored by St. Paul’s, Cowboy Church Fellowship and Sylvia Mae’s Soul Food. To volunteer, contact Jamie Slovacek, 903-520-4746.

Also in Jacksonville is The H.O.P.E. Center of Jacksonville's annual Thanksgiving dinner that's prepared and served up by local city officials. To-go plates will be handed out from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at 595 S. Ragsdale St. This year's meal will be served to-go, as part of the center's effort to uphold health precautions in light of a COVID-19 pandemic.

Alto's Hilltop Baptist Church will host a community Thanksgiving dinner, from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. Dine in, or take a plate to go!

On Thursday, Nov. 26, St. Paul's Baptist Church in Jacksonville will host a second free meal, a community Thanksgiving Day lunch co-sponsored by Cowboy Church Fellowship and Sylvia Mae’s Soul Food. The meal begins at 11 a.m., and volunteers and donations are appreciated. To learn more, contact Sylvia Jones 903-722-1854 or 903-658-3122.