'His Table' to provide Thanksgiving in Harrisburg Everyone in the city welcome to participate in community holiday

HARRISBURG - Those in the Harrisburg area looking for a place to have Thanksgiving once again may dine at "His Table," a community Thanksgiving dinner provided by Harrisburg First Baptist Church.

The free dinner is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday.

FBC associate pastor Joe Thompson said there are three options for those wishing to dine at "His Table."

"People can come in the church and eat from 11 to 1. We also have carryouts if people want to come get meals and take them with them. And, if people can't do either of those, we deliver to people in Harrisburg," Thompson said.

Thompson, who, with his wife Stacey helped start "His Table," said it is helpful if the church knows about how many people are coming, how many will need carryouts and how many will need delivery.

"If people can call and let us know, that's great, but they don't have to," he said. "Except deliveries. We don't have a way of knowing if people need meals delivered unless they call." That number is (618) 252-7491.

Thompson said the church plans on feeding about 1,000 people, a number that is not overestimated.

"That comes pretty close. Sometimes very close," he said, chuckling.

He also offered praise to volunteers who make the event possible.

"Jeremy Bennett (owner of Bar-B-Q Barn in Harrisburg) and his family get out of bed and are at Bar-B-Q Barn about 3 or 4 in the morning. They prepare all the turkey, dressing and mashed potatoes for our dine-ins and deliveries. It takes a yeoman's effort on their part.

" And Angi and Tim Behme prepare the food for carryouts. Then, we probably have 120 to 130 volunteers who come in and help on that day," Thompson said.

As people close to the church know, the number of community members who dine at "His Table" led to a weekly meal provided to the community each Thursday at the church.

"Knowing the need and seeing the need made it obvious we needed to do this more than one day a year," Thompson said.

"Now, we have a meal available Thursday night every week as a result of having started this."