Clanton residents will have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious holiday meal this Thursday during a Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

The dinner will be held at the Chilton County Assistance Center located at 500 Enterprise Road in Clanton from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We feed people that have nowhere else to go during the holiday,” event organizer Ruby Varner said. “The doors are open to anybody.”

A mixture of age groups is expected to attend the meal and no registration is required to take part.

Volunteers with the event will make trips to nursing homes to make sure that everyone is given the invitation to attend.

“We love volunteers,” Varner said.

The menu will feature an array of options that include turkey and sides such as, yams, collard greens, string beans, carrots and desserts.

The majority of the food is prepared by Varner, who has 33 years of experience as a restaurant cook.

Varner has already begun the preparation three days in advance, as she plans to smoke three turkeys for the dinner.

“We keep it [the food] out until its gone,” Varner said.

According to Varner, the idea originally came from her daughter and has continued to grow over the past eight years.

“It’s something that we look forward to each year,” Varner said.

In addition to the Emergency Assistance Center’s dinner, there will be plenty of meals available leading up to and on this Thanksgiving.

Nov. 22:

• There will be a Community Feast at the Clanton Recreation Facility on Lay Dam Road from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Gardens of Clanton is hosting a family Thanksgiving luncheon at 12 p.m. at 850 Scott Drive in Clanton.

Thanksgiving Day:

• Verbena Baptist Church will serve a free meal from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Meals are take out only. Call ahead to the church office at 205-755-1725 to reserve your plate. Church located at 197 County Road 500 in Verbena.
• Big Daddy Burgers will serve a free traditional Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those in need. Store is located at 310 6th Street South in Clanton.
• First United Methodist Church of Clanton will host a free Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Helen Parrish Activity Center at 207 8th Street North.