Where to get a free meal on Thanksgiving Day in Bloomington, Indiana
Free meals on Thanksgiving will be offered by several area agencies on Thursday. This year the meals offered will be served indoors, unlike most meals last year when tents and carryout meals were the options available at most sites. Monroe County still requires face masks indoors except in certain situations, including while eating or drinking.
Community Kitchen serves traditional Thanksgiving feast
Community Kitchen of Monroe County will offer hot meals from 3 to 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day at its two Bloomington locations, 1515 S. Rogers St. (dine-in) and 1100 W. 11th St. (carryout). A vegetarian meal option will be available at the Rogers Street location.
This year's meal — the 38th offered by Community Kitchen — will consist of turkey, green bean casserole, country herbed stuffing, mashed potatoes, fruit ambrosia, hot buttered rolls and homemade pies.
In 2020, Community Kitchen provided more than 500 meals and 200 bags of groceries to anyone in need on Thanksgiving Day. The agency anticipates a similar need for both this year.
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Community Kitchen is teaming up with the Hoosier Hills Food Bank to provide bags of groceries to be distributed at all locations. Kitchen staff and volunteers will prepare more than 300 meals for delivery to the homebound by Area 10 Agency on Aging volunteers.
"Many of us have fond holiday memories of festive gatherings with fantastic meals. We do our best to make that the reality for those who are not able to do so for themselves," said Vickie Pierce, executive director, in a news release. "Food donations really help us create that traditional Thanksgiving meal for our neighbors in need.”
Shalom Community Center serves brunch
Beacon will host a Thanksgiving brunch from 8 a.m. to noon on Thanksgiving Day at Shalom Community Center, 620 S. Walnut St.
"We're glad we'll be open for people who need to enjoy a meal that day," said Rev. Forrest Gilmore, executive director of Beacon Inc.
Wheeler Mission meal
Wheeler Mission will have a free meal from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at 215 S. Westplex Ave. Anyone who wants a Thanksgiving meal is welcome.
Contact Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com, 812-331-4359 or @ckugler on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Free Thanksgiving Day meals available at several Bloomington agencies
