Church offers free Thanksgiving delivery, carryout, dine-in

Maria Flora, The Lebanon Reporter, Ind.
·2 min read

Nov. 3—Organizers expect to serve a record number of free meals during the 39th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner in Lebanon.

Lebanon Rock Church volunteers served a record 837 meals last year.

"We're expecting upwards of maybe 900 this year," Pastor Matt Skiles said. "As the community grows, so do the requests."

He attributed last year's increase to an economic downturn and believes the skyrocketing cost of living and inflation will encourage more people to ask for the meals that include traditional favorites, including pie.

Skiles estimates that most will be served as carryout because of the convenience for diners. Volunteers will also deliver a large percentage of the meals, and about 100 diners will enjoy their meals with volunteers at the church.

Volunteer families like to stop to eat and visit with diners, many of whom are single parents and their children, retirees, senior citizens, those who live alone, and young families. "It's really a cross-section of the community," Skiles said.

Volunteers will also deliver hot meals for employees and inmates of the Boone County Jail and some nursing homes.

The meal is open to the public and all are welcome. Skiles encourages police, firefighters and other emergency workers to come for meals and take some back for others at their stations.

The church can feed about 900 people for only about $3,000 because of generous community donations. Community members donate money for food, and area businesses make in-kind donations that make a huge difference, Skiles said.

Wicks Pies will donate 20 cases of pies this year. That's 120 pies, or nearly 960 slices. And Burger King will donate individual pie serving boxes, which greatly curbs expenses. Kroger donates boxes for food delivery, and Kroger also helps out, among many more, Skiles said.

Meals will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 23.

Donations may be made online at lebanonrockchurch.org or by mailing a check written to Lebanon Rock Church to 504 E. Elm St., Lebanon, IN 46052. Note in the memo that the donation is for the Thanksgiving meal.

Request meal delivery by calling 765-482-4087 or online at lebanonrockchurch.org.