Throughout the WNIJ listening area, local organizations and churches will be opening their doors to provide Thanksgiving Dinner to the community.
In DeKalb, the Feed ’em Soup Community Project, an independent organization funded by private citizens and businesses in DeKalb County, will be serving its first community Thanksgiving Dinner.
Feed ’em Soup was founded in 2010 by a group of 20-somethings in DeKalb who decided to start providing community dinners in response to national concerns about food security and availability. According to Feed America, 38% of the population of DeKalb County is below the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program) poverty threshold. In response, Feed ’em Soup founders decided to provide “nutritious home-cooked meals and music” as a way to “combat both social insecurity and food insecurity—all completely free of charge.”
“The organization has received many requests over the past year to provide a community Thanksgiving meal,” said Derek Gibbs of Feed ’em Soup. The cooperation between local donors, like Target and Kishwaukee Community Hospital, has created a “community partnership that expects to serve over 200 volunteers and residents this Thanksgiving,” he added
The Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB), a non-profit organization serving 13 counties in Northern Illinois by connecting food donations and funds, is taking food donations for both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. NIFB helps feed more than 500,000 people annually. For more information on making a donation or becoming a volunteer, visit their web page at www.solvehungertoday.org
The following partial listing of community dinners will be served free of charge on Thursday, Nov. 22, unless otherwise noted.
Boone County
Evangelical Covenant Church’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner
12:30 p.m.
220 East Harrison Street, Belvidere, IL
For more information call (815) 547-6471 or visit their website: http://www.becov.org/pages/
Carroll County
First Evangelical Church Thanksgiving Dinner
Noon - 2 p.m.
301 South Clay St., Mount Carroll, IL
For more information, call: (815) 244-8044 or visit their website: http://www.firstlutheranmc.com/index.html
DeKalb County
Feed’em Soup Thanksgiving Community Meal
2 -5 p.m.
122 South First St., DeKalb, IL
For more information, visit their website at: www.feedemsoup.org or call (815) 310-0903
Kane County
Elgin Community Network Thanksgiving Dinner 2012
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
185 North Edison Ave., Elgin, IL
For more information, contact Jeff at: itndeli@gmail.com or (847) 888-9486
Lee County
Knights of Columbus Council 690 Thanksgiving Dinner
Noon - 3 p.m.
506 West Thirst St., Dixon, IL
For more information or a ride, call: (815) 288-2117 or visit their website: http://www.kofc690.com
Rock Island County
American Legion Public Thanksgiving Day Dinner
Noon - 5 p.m.
515 West 1st Ave., Milan, IL
Community Thanksgiving Dinner
1 p.m.
Broadway Church, 710-23rd St., Rock Island IL
For more information, see the church website at http://t.ymlp243.net/hmuatahubyatabjaraem/click.php or call the church office at (309) 786-2631
Stephenson County
Cedarville Emmanuel Church Thanksgiving Dinner
11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
175 North Cedar St., Cedarville, IL
For more information call (815) 563-4314 or visit their website at: http://www.cedarec.org/hp_drupal/
=Winnebago County
Rockford Rescue Mission
Noon
715 West State Street, Rockford, IL
(815) 965-5332