The Son Light Center Outreach in Jemison will serve a free community Thanksgiving dinner Thursday at noon.

The center, located at 151 Bibb Street in old town Jemison, is a food bank, shelter and thrift store. The shelter houses women, children and men who work as volunteers for the center.

The Son Light Center’s main source of income is donations, according to resident and volunteer Shavon Ellison.

“I think if more people knew about it, this could be an awesome organization,” Ellison said. “These people really have a heart for helping people. It doesn’t matter who you are.”

The Thanksgiving dinner is an example of what the center does on a weekly basis for local people who are in need. They hold a worship service every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and serve meals afterward.

“Our goal is to get a bigger place to help more people,” Kimberly Fenske, another resident and volunteer said. “When people donate, it directly affects the lives of people. This stuff is actually used for the center.”

She noted that the center is currently in need of a trailer as well as furniture and toys for kids. They are in the process of remodeling the thrift store, which is based in an historic building on Main Street. Volunteers are needed for this as well.

“If we had help, it wouldn’t take long,” Fenske said.

All donations are tax deductible. For more information about Son Light Center Outreach, or to make a donation or sponsor a child, please contact Walter and Betty Pettway at (205) 287-1703 or 688-2368.