###

Thanksgiving is nearly here, which means that many of our local nonprofits are busy preparing turkey dinners with all the fixins to serve to hungry folks this week. And while it seems that a few of our usual venues are unable to participate this year, or already did a meal earlier in the month, there are still a few options available for folks to get a hearty meal on (or near) Thanksgiving. 

And if you aren’t in need of food this holiday, but would like to help feed others, a couple of places are also taking volunteers to help prep, cook or serve grub to the community. 

Betty Kwann Chinn Day Center —133 Seventh Street, Eureka

As always, Betty and her team will be providing pre-packed dinners for those in need this Thanksgiving season. In order to try to provide as many free meal opportunities as possible, Chinn and other Eureka-based organizers coordinate each year to provide their Thanksgiving meals on different days/ times during the week. Chinn’s free meals will be available at the day center on Tuesday, Nov. 21. 

Chinn said that she will have about 500 meals ready to go on Tuesday and will be handing them out starting at 4 p.m. until all the food is gone. 

Eureka Rescue Mission — 110 Second Street, Eureka

For its part, the Eureka Rescue Mission will be serving a big, free meal on the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov. 22 from noon to 2 p.m. 

The meal will be served inside the chapel and is open to all in need. 

St. Vincent de Paul — 35 West Third Street, Eureka

With food already covered on Tuesday and Wednesday,  St. Vincent de Paul will be serving a traditional meal on actual Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, Nov. 23 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. 

If you are interested in volunteering with SVdP, organizers said that they are well-staffed for Thanksgiving Day, but could maybe use help prepping and cooking on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. If you’d rather donate some food,  the nonprofit is looking for a couple of items, particularly candied yams and canned pineapple.

Salvation Army — 2123 Tydd Street, Eureka 

Another option on Thanksgiving Day is getting your free meal at Eureka’s Salvation Army, which will be serving folks on Thursday, Nov. 23 from noon to 2 p.m.

Folks will have the option of eating there or taking a meal to-go. 

Mateel Community Center — 59 Rusk Lane, Redway

For those looking for a meal in SoHum, the Mateel Community Center is putting on its annual free meal on Thanksgiving Day from 12:30 p.m. until it’s all ate up! The meal will be served buffet-style and all are welcome.

If you are a senior with mobility issues, the Mateel volunteers are also delivering meals to seniors’ homes in the Garberville/ Redway area. You can sign up for the service between now and Thursday morning, by calling Amie at (707) 223-3063. 

And if you’re looking to help out, the Mateel is still in need of volunteers to help prep and cook on Thursday morning and all day on Wednesday. To sign up to volunteer, call the same number above, or you can just come by!

### 

Do you know of a free Thanksgiving meal that the Outpost missed? Drop us a line at news@lostcoastoutpost.com and we’ll add it to the list!