MARQEUTTE — A local church offers free meals once a month to the community. For their November dinner, they are pulling out all of the fixings.

It’s the season of giving – giving thanks, giving donations and giving some of your time.

Volunteers at the First United Methodist Church in Marquette got to do all of the above as they prep for their monthly free community dinner. For the month of November they are preparing a full turkey dinner with all of the fixings.

Volunteers are busy prepping all of the ingredients for the dinner including 50 pounds of potatoes. I guess you could say it’s a labor of love, and a labor of spuds.

The purpose of all this effort is to serve the community and bring people together.

Staff/Parish relations Chair Kelly Ross says, “I love being able to bring all of the community together. It really ranges from some of our guests from the Room at the Inn program, who are out in the cold – knowing that they’re going to get a hot meal, and Thanksgiving is always one of those special memories for most people – to church family members coming in for music rehearsal, bell rehearsal, that kind of thing. It’s just an opportunity to bring everyone together.”

Ross’ goal is to feed about 200 people. She says that prepping, serving and eating this meal is a special experience for her.

“This is my third year of doing the Thanksgiving meal in November. It’s one of my favorite meals. All the recipes are from my grandmother,” Ross added, “so it’s kind of my way of passing on her traditions, and it’s just a lot of fun for me. I love cooking, I love feeding people, and I love the opportunity to bring a large group together at a table.”

The dinner is Wednesday night at the church from 5:00 to 6:30. The church is located in downtown Marquette at the corner of Ridge and Front Street.

For more information please call the church office at 906.225.1344