Free Thanksgiving meal not planned locally

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For the first time in years, no organization will offer free dinners in Mitchell this Thanksgiving.

In years past, the Family Christian Center in northeast Mitchell supplied free Thanksgiving meals to families. That annual event was under the supervision of the Rev. Larry Gouin and his wife Kathy.

The Gouins moved from Mitchell in the past year and the tradition was discontinued.

The Salvation Army, at 724 N. Sanborn Blvd., Mitchell, is doing what it can to fill the void, said Maj. Linda Jones, but it will be doing so a day early.

“We’ll be doing a free Thanksgiving meal (today) instead of Thursday, for those who don’t have a meal to go to,” Jones said, since the Salvation Army will be closed on Thanksgiving. The Salvation Army volunteers will serve the free meal from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today. The Salvation Army typically serves meals to 35 to 50 people daily, Jones said. The special pre-Thanksgiving dinner will be part of that daily meal, she said, with a special menu.

“We’ll have turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy,” she said.

Jones only recently learned at a Mitchell Ministerial Association meeting that no church or other organization stepped up to fill the Thanksgiving void. Had she known earlier, Jones said, she could have made other arrangements.

Today’s pre-Thanksgiving meal is the best that could be arranged on short notice, she said.

“Hopefully we’ll have a few more people show up,” she said.

Troy Magnuson, a member of the Mitchell Masonic Lodge, 112 E. Fifth Ave., said another Mitchell holiday tradition will continue.

Magnuson said Mitchell’s Masons will hold their 13th annual Christmas Day Banquet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 25.

The meal is free, but donations will be accepted.