Thanksgiving Community Dinner: 33 Years and Going Strong in Wallingford

A special Homecoming Holiday Dinner will be enjoyed by everyone at the 33rd annual Thanksgiving Dinner, Noon to 2:00 p.m. Thanksgiving day at the First Congregational Church, 23 South Main Street, Wallingford.

The dinner, sponsored by Parents & Kids Foundation, Inc. and the church, is free and open to all who want to spend the day with others. This is a wonderful time to get to know lots of people from our community. Transportation will be provided to those needing rides. Meals and visits will also be delivered to the home bound.

God’s Dinners, as they have become known, are served on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, and are fully dependent on donations of food, time, talent and money to be successful. In addition to the meal served in the church dining room, meals and visits are also given to those unable to leave their homes. Volunteers delivering meals stay and visit with the recipients if desired. Often, these visits mean as much or more to those without family or friends in the area.

We also have service projects for the volunteers writing letters to our soldiers away from home, making pull toys for the animal shelters, as well as collecting dog and cat food, along with other activities. There will be something for everyone to do, and together, we can do so much for so many.

Thanksgiving is the largest of the three dinners with Christmas close behind. We will serve 500-700 meals including those who wish to share a meal at the church and the home bound. We work closely with Master’s Manna and our local churches to make sure all who want a meal have one.

As this effort has become so large, it is important to collect food and other items as early as possible. We will be collecting food donations November 22, 24, 25 and 26 from 10am to 1pm at the First Congregational Church. Cooking crews and food prep volunteers are needed in 2 to 4 hour shifts on November 24, 25 and 26 from 9am- 3pm. The more help we have, the more fun we have AND the faster we get done. Please call 203-284-8299 to find out what you can do to help or donate.

We are in need of everything! Individuals and businesses that would like to volunteer their time, talent, food, gifts, money or services are asked to call Judy at 203-284-8299.