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Come to the feast: Free Thanksgiving meals

	Thanksgiving

As our extended mild weather turns toward winter, we give thanks for the blessings of the past growing season and fall harvest. On Thanksgiving Day, we celebrate and share the fruits of these blessings from God with others in a festive meal.

But not everyone has a place to go for the feast. So area groups are sponsoring free Thanksgiving dinners, to which all are welcome. Anyone is welcome to attend. (Volunteers are also appreciated.)

Below are listings of area dinners. All are on Nov. 22, unless otherwise noted:

Related articles this week: • Front-page photo: Shack-a-Thon at St. Norbert College • Homeless shelter opens     Diocese supports plans to open shelter at local church • Hunger, homelessness in spotlight     National Hunger, Homelessness Awareness Week     is Nov. 11-17 Past articles: from October 26, 2007 issue: • On Nov. 1, where will Green Bay homeless go?     City plan for most marginalized may not happen,     but church hospitality center ready from September 28, 2007 issue: • Alternative to COTS homeless shelter in works     Green Bay's New Community Shelter in mix,     advises patience from August 31, 2007 issue: • Green Bay nixes winter shelter at church     COTS offered a place to sleep to people     who couldn't go to city's other shelters • Bridging the Gap by Bishop David Zubik --     A scraped knee and beyond     Emergency shelter in downtown     is all about caring for each other

APPLETON: Monarch Gardens, 2311 W. Spencer St., will have dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Home delivery and transportation available. Call Christ the Rock Community Church, (920)730-8383, for reservations, home deliveries or a ride. Volunteers needed to drive and deliver - call (920)460-1010 - as are financial donations.

CHILTON: The Eagles Club will be the cooking site of the 25th annual Thanksgiving Day Express sponsored by eight area fire departments. Noon meals will be delivered in Calumet County. Volunteers are needed to cook and wash dishes. To volunteer, come to the Eagles Club, 1041 E. Chestnut (Hwy. 57) at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving. To have a meal delivered, call the Dairy Queen at (920)849-9379. Donated pumpkin pies can be dropped off at Dairy Queen on Nov. 20 and 21. Monetary donations, checks made to "Thanksgiving Day Express," can be sent c/o Dairy Queen, 621 N. Madison, Chilton, 53014.

CLINTONVILLE: Knights of Columbus, Council #1922, will sponsor its 30th annual family-style dinner at 11:30 a.m. at the Clintonville Community Center, 30 S. Main St. Reservations needed by Nov. 16. Call the center at (715)823-7667. To set-up, serve or clean-up, or to make monetary donations, call Dick Writt at (715)823-7660.

ELLISON BAY: Northern Door Community is sponsoring its 11th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at noon at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, 11836 Hwy. 42. All are welcome, but reservations are needed by Nov. 18. Call Eloise Lindem at (920)854-4458. (Do not call the church.) There will be a Thanksgiving prayer service at 11:15 a.m., to which all are invited - but only those with reservations may attend the meal.

FREEDOM: Rico's Family Restaurant, N3994 Columbia Ave. (across from Freedom High School) will serve turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and dressing from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take-out is available. Reservations are appreciated for larger groups, but not necessary. To volunteer or make a donation, call (920)687-9170.

FREMONT: Wolf River Diner, 306 Main Street (next to Mobil) will have its fifth annual homemade dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. No reservations needed. Deliveries are available in the Weyauwega/Fremont area and may be ordered by calling the diner at (920)446-3153.

GREEN BAY: Christian Outreach, an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Ministry, will sponsor dinner from noon until 1:30 p.m. at the Atrium at Lambeau Field. Festivities begin with an 11:15 a.m. ecumenical prayer service. Entertainment and meal deliveries offered. Reservations needed by Nov. 19 - seating is limited. Call (920)469-9900. To make cash donations, call (920)265-8303 or mail to "Christian Outreach - Thanksgiving," 2270 S. Oneida St., Green Bay WI 54304.

HORTONVILLE: Ss. Peter & Paul Parish, 109 N. Olk St., will sponsor a turkey and ham dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the gymnasium. Reservations not required; all are welcome. For a ride or meal delivery, phone Tom Brunner at (920)779-6167 or Mike Emerine at 779-0724.

KESHENA: St. Michael Parish, N816 Hwy. 47/55, will be the site of dinner from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free cell phone calls will be offered, and carry-outs or home deliveries and rides - including wheelchair transport - are available. To make arrangements, call Paul Rathsack at (715)524-5333, or - on Thanksgiving Day only - the parish hall (715)799-4107. Volunteers to set up on Wednesday are needed and donations are welcome. Register by Nov. 20 if possible.

MARINETTE: Marinette and Menominee area churches are sponsoring their Annual Community Thanksgiving Day Meal at Holy Family Parish Center, 2715 Taylor St., starting at noon. Reservations are needed by Tuesday, Nov. 20. Call Our Savior's Lutheran at (715)735-3101 or Emmanuel Lutheran at (906)863-3431. Local rides are available.

NEW LONDON: The 11th annual free community Thanksgiving dinner will be held at United Methodist Church, 709 W. Pine St. Four local churches, including Most Precious Blood Parish, will sponsor this 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. dinner. Carry-outs and rides are available. Call United Methodist at (920)982-4703 for rides. Reservations appreciated.

OCONTO: (Note date) Manna Meals' Thanksgiving Feast will be served at First American Lutheran Church, 511 Madison Street, on MONDAY, Nov. 19, at 5 p.m. The meal is hosted by three area churches. Please call for reservations (920)834-5790 and leave your name, phone number, and how many will attend.

OSHKOSH: Father Carr's Place 2B, 1965 Oshkosh Ave., will host its 34th annual "Bread for Others" Thanksgiving Day dinners at noon and 5 p.m. in the Mother Teresa Hall. Rides and home-delivered meals will be available for the noon meal only. Call (920)231-2378 for reservations, to request a meal delivery, to volunteer or make donations. Salads, desserts and cooked turkey are needed. Monetary donations can be sent to "Bread for Others," Father Carr's Place 2B at the above address, 54901.

North Side Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service: 7 p.m., Nov. 21, at First Presbyterian Church, 110 Church Ave. Food and fellowship to follow.

STURGEON BAY: United Methodist Church, 836 Michigan St., will have a meal at 4:15 p.m. Call (920)743-3241 by Nov. 19 for reservations. Carry-outs and deliveries available. People who are alone are especially welcome. Volunteers needed Monday through Wednesday for set-up, and on Thursday at 1:30 for deliveries. Call the church.

SHAWANO: First Presbyterian and Zion Lutheran Churches will host a noon dinner at Zion Lutheran, 1254 S. Lincoln St. First Presbyterian will handle carry-outs and deliveries. Reservations must be made by Monday, Nov. 19. Call Zion at (715)526-2017 for reservations and rides. For deliveries, call First Presbyterian at (715)526-3329. Call either church to make monetary or food donations. You can also e-mail First Presbyterian at shawanopres@frontiernet.net. Free will offerings will go to "World Hunger."

WAUTOMA: St. Joseph Parish Hall, 364 S. Cambridge St., is the site of the parish's 14th annual buffet-style dinner at noon. Start with snacks at 11:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome; reservations are not needed. To volunteer, make donations, or for home delivery of a meal, call Helen Cox at (920)787-5900.

(Rosemary Campbell contributed to this story.)