By Cathy Higgins
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — First United Methodist Church of Bay Minette and Little Zion United Methodist Church in Tensaw are teaming up to spread some holiday cheer in north Baldwin County this month with the annual Community Thanksgiving Meal and Food Distribution.
Held at Bay Minette FUMC at 120 W. Second St., the event is set for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22.
According to FUMC Director of Children’s Ministries Cheryl Mothershed, the free event is an outreach designed to provide attendees with a hot Thanksgiving meal that day.
“We offer a meal to people who are less fortunate,” she said over the phone.
In addition, a bag of groceries is distributed to each family “so they can make their own Thanksgiving meal on (the following) Thursday,” Mothershed added.
The meal and groceries are free. All attendees need to do is provide such identification as a driver’s license or state identification card.
According to Mothershed, the Thanksgiving outreach is in its third year. In that time, quite a number of area residents have been fed.
“We feed everybody who comes that’s in need,” she said. “We’ve served between 300 and 400 people in the past.”
The event’s coordinator expects that number to increase this time around.
“This year, we are expecting 500 people,” Mothershed said.
To ensure that such a large number can get served, plans have already been set in motion.
“We’ve been working on it for about six months,” Mothershed explained.
That work includes help from volunteers at both congregations, as well as a culinary contribution.
“The Mobile Food Bank donates food for this,” Motherhed said.
For more information about the upcoming Community Thanksgiving Meal and Food Distribution, call FUMC at 937-8303.
