Where Can You Help Those in Need on Thanksgiving?

Are you looking for a place to volunteer on Thanksgiving Day?

St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Warren

Volunteers will gather again this year at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Warren. They will prepare and deliver free Thanksgiving dinners to more than 200 homebound, elderly and needy people throughout the East Bay, including Barrington, Warren, Bristol, Riverside and Rumford in East Providence, and even Pawtucket. 

They’ve been making Thanksgiving dinners and delivering the meals for more than 25 years, said Judy Fardig of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 11 in Warren. The auxiliary joins forces with the Warren Association of Vietnam Veterans and the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. 

“But we’re always looking for volunteers,” said Fardig, who organizes an assembly line to bag the meals.

And if you know your way around the East Bay, you could be put to work making deliveries.

“We have no way to keep the meals hot,” she said. “So it’s very important that volunteers know where they are going.”

The volunteers also will sit down in the church hall for a meal after deliveries are completed with anyone who does not want to eat alone, said Fardig. Usually, 20 to 25 people show up for the food and the companionship. 

Leave a message at 245-5431 if you can volunteer or you know someone who needs a meal.

Perhaps you can donate a turkey or holiday fixings instead? Drop off the turkeys at the Market Street Pub in Warren. The pub uses its freezer to store the birds.

Providence Rescue Mission, Providence 

The Providence Rescue Mission at 627 Cranston St. in Providence is in regular need of volunteers, including for their Thanksgiving meals for the needy Saturday, Nov. 23 and on Thanksgiving Day Thursday, Nov. 28, both days from 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. 

"Sure, we always do," said David Horowitz, director at the mission, when asked if they need volunteers. He said volunteers are needed for setup before and after the mealtimes, as well as during the meals themselves. The mission also works a Meals on Wheels delivery of Thanksgiving meals to people in the Providence area. 

To volunteer, Horowitz said people should fill out Providence Rescue Mission.org's online volunteer application. For more information, call 401-274-8861. 

Do you know a place that needs volunteers? Tell everyone in the comment section below.