Thanksgiving will come early for some Clark County residents. For most others the big day is, as always, the fourth Thursday in November.
If your group is offering a meal that we haven’t listed, please call 360-735-4525 or send the details to The Columbian’s Neighbors email address no later than Monday.
And, as always, a number of generous local churches, restaurateurs and other donors will make sure the needy among us have someplace to get together, get warm and get fed.
Thursday
The menu of free Thanksgiving options starts today at lunchtime in Washougal, as Loaves & Fishes, “the Meals on Wheels people,” brings a traditional turkey dinner to its Washougal Senior Center. The free meal is open to anyone 60 or older. It starts at 11:30 a.m. at 1681 C St. On tap are roasted turkey and gravy, cranberry relish, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, peas and pearl onions, cranberry gelatin salad, potato rolls and pumpkin pie with whipped topping.
Friday
On Friday, Loaves & Fishes will bring the same horn of plenty to its other local sites. Anyone 60 or older is invited to dine at 11:30 a.m. at one of the following locations:
• Battle Ground Center, 912 East Main St.
• Firstenburg Center, 700 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver.
• Luepke Senior Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin, Vancouver.
Loaves & Fishes also will deliver meals to seniors at home on Thanksgiving day. For more information, call 503-736-6325 or visit mealsonwheelspeople.org.
According to a statement from the group, Loaves & Fishes has 35 meal sites in Clark, Multnomah and Washington counties, and puts volunteers to work serving 5,000 meals daily and 1.2 million meals per year.
Saturday
Crossroads Community Church and the Clark County Christian Center are pulling resources together to serve a pre-Thanksgiving supper to the first 200 people who show up on Saturday. Nearly 600 invitations were distributed in central Vancouver last week, according to a statement from Crossroads.
The Clark County Christian Center will host the meal. There’ll be music too. The event is set for 5 p.m. at the Clark County Christian Center, 6403 E. Mill Plain Blvd.
Thanksgiving day (Nov. 22)
Chronis’ Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Vancouver will offer its traditional holiday dinner from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., hosted as always by restaurateur Chuck Chronis and his friend Superior Court Judge Rich Melnick. The free meal is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 819 Main St. Full turkey dinner with vegetables, mashed potatoes, dessert, milk, coffee and tea are on tap. All are welcome.
Da Kine’s Cafe hosts its third annual Thanksgiving outreach with a home-cooked meal from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Christ Community Church, 11900 N.E. 95th St., Suite 440 (in the East Ridge Business Park). Please call 360-798-7622 to make a reservation.
