Free, public feasts will offer turkey, dressing and all the other trimmings — along with companionship — this Thanksgiving holiday.
Although most of the feasts will be on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, one is scheduled today in Clallam Bay, two in Port Angeles are planned Wednesday, and another Port Angeles meal is set for Friday.
The Clallam Bay Presbyterian Church, 15 Eighth St., will host a free, public Thanksgiving dinner at 6 p.m. today.
For more information, phone 360-963-2436.
Wednesday feasts
The Salvation Army will serve a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The meal at the organization at 206 S. Peabody St., is traditionally held the day before Thanksgiving to allow people time with their families on the holiday.
The meal is free and open to those in need.
The Serenity House Dream Center, 535 E. First St., also will host a Thanksgiving meal from noon to 5 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving.
The Dream Center is seeking help to obtain supplies, cook, serve the meal and help with clean up.
Particularly needed items include vegetable dishes, milk and apple cider.
For more information, phone 360-452-2883.
Friday get-together
The First United Methodist Church, 110 E. Seventh St., will serve a free community Thanksgiving dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
The church holds free community friendship meals each Friday.
For more information, phone 360-457-8971.
Here’s a list of the Thursday feeds, presented by community.
Port Angeles
• A free community meal will be served at Queen of Angels gym, 209 W. 11th St., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
The third annual dinner is open to the public.
“This got started three years ago because it was something I wanted to do for a long time,” said Reath Ellefson, who organizes the dinner.
“It is the best thing in the whole world.
“This is my Christmas present to myself.”
Children are presented with gifts at the meal.
“It is so wonderful to see the joy on the children’s faces,” Ellefson said.
Ellefson is seeking volunteers.
“Last year we served close to 200 and I’m hoping for so much more this year,” she said.
“Just show up with a smiling face and an empty tummy.”
For more information or to make a donation, phone Ellefson at 360-460-3558.
• Serenity House will serve its annual community Thanksgiving dinner at its Single Adult Shelter, 2321 W. 18th St., from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Community members are invited to share and enjoy the free Thanksgiving meal.
Volunteers are welcomed to help with meal preparation, serving, and clean-up.
For more information, phone 360-452-7221.
• Seasons Cafe at Olympic Medical Center, 939 Caroline St., will serve a Thanksgiving meal during lunch and dinner hours Thursday.
The meal will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The cost is $10 per person.
The Thanksgiving meal includes roast turkey with mushroom dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans with mushrooms and onions, sweet potato casserole, cranberry walnut relish, a dinner roll, choice of pumpkin crunch or cranberry apple crisp and coffee.
A vegetarian option is also available.
Sequim
• Hardy’s Market, 10200 Old Olympic Highway, will serve a free Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. until supplies are gone Thursday.
The meal is to thank customers for their support.
Last year’s meal served about 150 people.
For more information, phone the market at 360-582-0240.
• A free Thanksgiving dinner will be offered at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., at 3 p.m.
Reservations are required for the traditional turkey dinner.
Reservations can be made by phoning the church at 360-683-5367 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
The church also sponsors free community dinners on the last Thursday of each month.
• A complimentary Thanksgiving Day dinner for veterans, their families, widows and widowers also will be open to the general public.
Reservations are requested.
The dinner will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the VFW Hall, 169 E. Washington St.
To make a reservation or for more information, phone 360-683-9546, leaving the names of people who plan to attend the dinner on the phone’s answering machine.
West End
• Feeding the Five Thousand will host a free community Thanksgiving Day dinner at the Forks Senior Center on Thursday.
The meal will be served from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the center at 41 Maple St., which has handicapped access and no stairs, said Laura Lafranz, an organizer.
“We have all of the churches in Forks participating by donating food and helping,” said Lafranz, who said the event is organized by the Church of the Nazarene in Forks.
The feast is a continuation of meals served regularly in the community.
“Through all of the meals over the last three years, we’ve fed probably 8,000 to 10,000 people,” she said.
For more information, phone Steve Bruce at 360-374-3218.
• A free Thanksgiving feast for Clallam Bay and Sekiu residents is set for 2 p.m. Thursday.
The meal will be at the Sekiu Community Center.
Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy will be provided, and attendees are asked to bring a side dish.
Seniors who need rides should phone Kathleen Haney at 360-640-0586.
Chimacum
• A Tri-Area community Thanksgiving dinner will be served at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, Chimacum, from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday.
The free dinner — sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul, St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Olympic Community Action Programs, Senior Nutrition and the community center — will be cooked and served by volunteers.
Those unable to attend who would like to have the meal delivered can phone 360-385-2571, ext. 6357.
Leave a message, and arrangements will be made to deliver the meal.
Brinnon
• A community feast is planned at the Brinnon Community Center, 306144 U.S. Highway 101, at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Turkey, dressing, gravy and mashed potatoes will be provided.
Participants are asked to bring side dishes. A sign-up sheet to prevent duplicate side dishes is available at the center.
For more information, phone 360-796-4350.