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Date: 11/7/2023
HOLLAND — Holland Congregational Church will host its annual free Thanksgiving dinner event on Sunday, Nov. 19, at Holland Elementary School, the parish recently announced.
The event, which offers a dinner at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., is run entirely by volunteers from the parish and will take place in the school’s gymnasium at 28 Sturbridge Rd., Youth and Music Pastor Jeff Pearson said.
Upon arriving, each attendee will be served a drink, a full Thanksgiving meal and a dessert by the volunteers at no cost. All food and drink at the event are donated, prepared and served by the parish volunteers, Pearson stated. The event is structured in two identical waves to ensure full meals can be provided to all attendees.
“We want the town to know we love and care for them,” Pearson said, stating that that church has hosted the dinner annually for more than 15 years in order to offer support to residents around the holidays. “We’ve served over 400 meals in the past [during a single dinner].”
Because the gymnasium can only hold around 150-200 people, residents must reserve a seat before attending, Lead Preaching Pastor Dan Maketansky explained.
While Holland Congregational Church hosts other community events during the year, the free Thanksgiving dinner event is more “town-oriented,” Pearson stated.
When asked what was important for residents to know about the event, Pearson emphasized that the parish’s intention was to provide for residents, saying, “We want people to know that it really is a free meal.”
In addition to in-person attendance, the church also offers meals to people who cannot leave their houses, such as elderly or injured residents, Pearson stated. However, this service is exclusively available for certain qualifying residents.
For more information about the free Thanksgiving dinners or to reserve a seat, contact the Holland Congregational Church office at 413-245-9926.