Published Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Free community meal returns for 11th year

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Newnan Times-Herald

A free community Thanksgiving meal will be served again this year in the cafeterias of Newnan High School and Arnco-Sargent Elementary School.

This will be the 11th year for the dinner, said Dawn Coffman of Hands of Kindness Outreach, which now puts on the annual event.

Volunteers can deliver dinners to homebound people, and a free clothing giveaway will also be held at both locations.

The community dinner was originally started by Newnan businessman Reggie Pless at the Central Educational Center. It is now organized by Hands of Kindness, a ministry of Community Christian Church.

"It's an opportunity for the entire community to come together -- if they desire to do so -- to just have a celebration together," Coffman said.

"It doesn't really matter what your economic status is," she said. "We just really want folks to come and meet your neighbors and meet the community and have a time of fellowship and free food."

"We find that a lot of folks who live around here might not have family around or can't get home for the holiday or may just not have family period," Coffman said.

As for the clothing giveaway, "it actually turns out to be more of a big need than the meal, we find," Coffman said. In addition to donated clothes, there will also be various household items, toys, and baby items given away.

This will be the third year that the dinner has been offered at two locations.

"It works beautifully," Coffman said. The delivered meals are also very popular. Last year, "we wound up delivering about 1,500 meals," she said.

Coffman said the church has plenty of volunteers, but financial contributions would be most welcome.

"As far as other needs, we really just want people to come and eat," Coffman said. "We make lots -- and we don't like to have leftovers."

Men from the church stay up all night on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving smoking turkey breasts, Coffman said. There are also plenty of traditional side items and homemade desserts.

The dinner is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thanksgiving day.

Anyone who wants a meal delivered should call ahead of time. The night before Thanksgiving is OK, but earlier calls are better.

To set up a delivery, contact Don Bailey at 404-216-7931. For more information, call Community Christian Church at 770-251-9516.