GETTING READY – Members of the committee helping to organize the second-annual Christmas takeout meals campaign met at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, Monday, to finalize details for this year’s effort. Meals will be delivered to those registered on Saturday, with leftovers available from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the church. — Craig Howell
WEIRTON — Spinning off of a long-held tradition of providing meals for the Thanksgiving holiday, a group of local organizations has put together an outreach for many of the shut-ins in the community, to ensure they have a warm meal for Christmas.
For the second year, representatives of area churches, civic organizations, and others have come together to prepare and deliver meals for residents of Weirton’s high-rise complexes and registered shut-ins. It’s an effort organizers say is growing, both in involvement and execution.
“Our organizations that have come together this year have grown,” noted DeeAnn Pulliam, assistant city manager for the City of Weirton and a member of the planning committee for the campaign.
Residents from Freedom Place 1 and Freedom Place 2, Overbook Towers and Chestnut Manor have been asked to register to receive meals, which will include turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, stuffing, rolls with butter, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
Preparation will take place this week, with delivery made Saturday afternoon.
In addition, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday meals will be available at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church for local shut-ins, or anyone else who wants a meal, on a first-come, first-served basis.
“If you’d like to come in and get a meal, they’ll be here from 1 to 2 until food is gone,” Pulliam said.
According to Nick Tranto, there is a lot of work which goes into providing these meals.
“We’ve got 24 turkeys thawing,” he said Monday morning, noting this year’s Thanksgiving meal, organized through the Weirton Ministerial Association and prepared in the kitchen of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, served close to 600 residents, and they are anticipating 350 to receive meals Saturday.
Volunteers are being lined up for the remainder of the week to assist in preparing every part of the meal, and then set up the church’s fellowship hall so it is ready for Saturday’s deliveries.
Support this year has been provided from the Salvation Army of Brooke and Hancock Counties, All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, The Order of AHEPA No. 10, Weirton Steel 25 Year Club, City of Weirton, Cove United Presbyterian Church, GFWC Weirton Woman’s Club, Rotary Club of Weirton Heights, Hancock and Brooke Young Professionals, Weirton Club 3:16, Weirton United Methodist Charge, Ward 6 Councilman Enzo Fracasso, United Bank, Weirton Christian Mothers, Knights of Columbus Weirton Council 3734, Weirton Transit, Weirton Lions Club, Girl Scout Troop 51418, Weirton Kroger, and Joe and Patti Barnabei.
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