Church helps families celebrate Thanksgiving

November 24, 2010 at 4:58 a.m. | Updated November 24, 2010 at 4:58 a.m.

Volunteer Richard Watson hands Darlene Wells a frozen turkey Tuesday afternoon at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City. Church members provided 215 families with the fixings necessary for Thanksgiving dinner. Wells did not register in time to guarantee she would get the food but another recipient canceled. "I came believing," she told the Rev. Mark Dumas a few minutes later.
Volunteer Richard Watson hands Darlene Wells a frozen turkey Tuesday afternoon at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City. Church members provided 215 families with the fixings necessary for Thanksgiving dinner. Wells did not register in time to guarantee she would get the food but another recipient canceled. "I came believing," she told the Rev. Mark Dumas a few minutes later.

More than 200 local families will be assured of turkey on the table with the traditional trimmings for Thanksgiving through the food ministry at First United Methodist Church.

On Tuesday, the families, which signed up in advance, picked up their baskets consisting of a 10-pound turkey, rolls, pie, gravy, green beans, corn and cranberry sauce.

The church's food pantry has seen a 50 to 70 percent increase each month in the numbers of people served.

But this is a holiday tradition the church has observed for many years, said the Rev. Mark Dumas. They have provided the turkey for 15 years and added the trimmings about 10 years ago.

  1. Florida (21-2) beat Tennessee 94-78. Next: at Georgia, Wednesday.
  2. Wisconsin (22-2) beat Northwestern 69-52. Next: at Penn State, Wednesday.
  3. North Carolina (20-3) lost to N.C. State 83-79. Next: at No. 8 Duke, Wednesday.
  4. Ohio State (20-3) beat Michigan State 63-54. Next: vs. Michigan, Tuesday.
  5. UCLA (20-2) beat Oregon State 82-35. Next: vs. Southern California, Wednesday.
  6. Kansas (19-3) vs. No. 10 Texas A&M. Next: vs. Kansas State, Wednesday.
  7. Pittsburgh (20-3) did not play. Next: at West Virginia, Wednesday.
  8. Duke (18-4) did not play. Next: vs. Florida State, Sunday.
  9. Oregon (19-4) lost to Southern California 71-68. Next: vs. Arizona State, Thursday.
  10. Texas A&M (18-3) at No. 6 Kansas. Next: vs. No. 22 Texas, Monday.
  11. Memphis (19-3) beat SMU 88-52. Next: at UAB, Thursday.
  12. Oklahoma State (18-4) lost to Colorado 89-77. Next: at Oklahoma, Wednesday.
  13. Butler (22-2) beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee 66-47. Next: at Cleveland State, Thursday.
  14. Marquette (20-4) beat Providence 69-62. Next: vs. Rutgers, Wednesday.
  15. Nevada (20-2) vs. Hawaii. Next: at Fresno State, Thursday.
  16. Virginia Tech (16-7) lost to Boston College 80-59. Next: vs. Virginia, Saturday.
  17. Air Force (20-3) beat Wyoming 88-43. Next: at San Diego State, Tuesday.
  18. Washington State (18-4) at Arizona State. Next: vs. No. 23 Stanford, Thursday.
  19. Alabama (17-5) beat South Carolina 64-61. Next: vs. Mississippi State, Wednesday.
  20. Arizona (15-7) beat Washington 84-54. Next: at Arizona State, Thursday.
  21. Notre Dame (18-4) at South Florida. Next: at DePaul, Thursday.
  22. Texas (16-6) lost to Kansas State 73-72. Next: at No. 10 Texas A&M, Saturday.
  23. Stanford (14-6) at California. Next: at No. 18 Washington State, Thursday.
  24. Vanderbilt (15-7) vs. Georgia. Next: at Tennessee, Saturday.
  25. Clemson (18-5) lost to Georgia Tech 80-62. Next: vs. Florida State, Wednesday.

Upcoming Events