Staff Reports
Wanted: 150 pies and/or cakes for dessert Thanksgiving at the United Gospel Rescue Mission.
Thanksgiving is a time to share and Rev. Gregory Kirk is expecting to have about 1,200 guests for lunch Thursday. You are invited, too.
Kirk said he's being conservative estimating how many he'll serve. When he started 13 years ago, 900 arrived to dine.
Planning ahead and having additional help is a must. Except for desserts and drinks, Kirk said, "I already have food in the house," but if anyone wants to contribute, donations may be sent to the mission.
Desserts including pies, cakes and cookies always are needed to feed the people. The desserts may be dropped off at the mission Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. A donation of any brand and size of ground coffee or tea will be welcome, Kirk said.
Pre-preparation of food will be from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Drop in to help chop onions, clean and dice celery, peel potatoes and anything else needed to make the meal special.
If Thanksgiving is the only day you have available, don't feel left out, show up anytime after 8 a.m. and "come for an hour or a whole day," Kirk said. There will be plenty of last minute details for you to handle.
Food prep not your style? Help deliver meals to those who are working or unable to attend including firefighters, city, county and state law enforcement officers, emergency medical service workers, home-bound people and others.
If you want to deliver meals, arrive at the mission at 10:30 a.m. The Poplar Bluff Firefighters have volunteered to give directions to different locations. You can deliver to one location or come back and deliver to more than one.
There are "people who volunteer every year. They just do their thing," Kirk said, adding one organized volunteer shows up each year helping direct the food service line. Other families, youngsters included, will help serve the meal to the guests after they are seated and before the blessing at 11:30 a.m.