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The Hooverson Heights Church of Christ and the Brooke County Salvation Army will be holding community dinners on Thanksgiving Day and welcome some help from area residents. Located at Rockdale Road and Church Avenue, the church will be holding its community dinner from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the holiday, and the Salvation Army will be holding its dinner from noon to 3 p.m. that day at its service center at 401 Commerce St. in Wellsburg. Mary Kimberland, a Hooverson Heights Church of Christ member involved with the dinner, said donations of non-perishable food and gift cards for local food stores are appreciated. Kimberland said she has used her Facebook page to request donations and volunteers. “You wouldn’t believe how many people have e-mailed me wanting to donate. There are so many people in this area who have reached out,” she said. The Rev. Dan Cooper, the church’s pastor, said the dinner, which was suggested by Kimberland, is the first of several outreach programs in the works under the banner,“Help on the Hill.” But Cooper said the dinner isn’t limited to local residents down on their luck. “It’s also for anybody who doesn’t have a family to spend the holiday with,” he said. Those interested in helping or attending should call (304) 527-1081 or e-mail Cooper at dbcooper1962@ gmail.com. Reservations are requested by Nov. 25, but no one will be turned away. Organizers of the Salvation Army dinner also stressed it’s open to everyone, whether it’s a hot meal or some good company they seek. “They don’t have to be in need. They can just come down and have Thanksgiving dinner with us,” said Salvation Army Capt. Goldie Long, who with her husband, Capt. Ed Long, oversees the Brooke and Hancock county Salvation Army headquarters. Rebecca Bell, secretary for the service center, said the annual event has been attended by several couples whose grown children live away. Long added shuttles will be available to residents of local senior housing complexes and meals will be delivered to shut-ins. Reservations aren’t required but are encouraged, particularly for groups, and may be made by calling (304) 737-0071. Long added the Hancock County Salvation Army will be involved in a community Thanksgiving Day dinner to be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. by the Weirton Ministerial Association at the Greater Weirton Senior Center. For information about it, call (304) 748-4422 or 748-3940. The meal at the Brooke County center will be served by many of the same volunteers who prepare the community lunches offered at the center at noon each Wednesday and Friday, but additional volunteers are welcome. Long said the Salvation Army has been blessed with the donation of about 400 turkeys from Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, but donations of non-perishable food are appreciated. The Salvation Army also maintains a food pantry for residents in need, the number of which has increased significantly, she said. Long said many of the applicants are first-timers who had been let go by their employers within the last year. The organization thus far has received applications from 200 households in Hancock County and 115 in Brooke County, she said, and will be conducting another sign-up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the service center Each applicant should bring a photo ID, Social Security cards for all family members in the household, proof of all household income, including food stamps; and proof of expenses, such as utilities and rent. Increased need has led to Salvation Army officials throughout the U.S. moving up their Christmas kettle campaigns, and the Brooke and Hancock county Salvation Army is no different, with its kettle and Angel Tree campaigns set to begin Friday. Those interested in serving as volunteer bell ringers are encouraged to call 737-0071 or (304) 748-4310. The Salvation Army also seeks local businesses to display Angel Trees, which are decorated with ornaments bearing the names of the gift wishes of children of families in need. (Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

 

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