Sharing blessings – Churches, groups offer Thanksgiving meals in Orangeburg, Denmark, Olar

Williams Chapel AME Church will be handing out hot meals to the community and an Orangeburg nonprofit will be distributing meals to the homeless on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

Several groups and churches are also offering meals on Thanksgiving Day.

Bennie Brown, a member of Williams Chapel, said the church will not have its traditional sit-down meal this year, but there are plans for a walk-through Thanksgiving meal giveaway from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church, which is located at 1198 Glover St., Orangeburg.

The church served more than 650 meals on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving last year. The church is prepared for approximately the same amount this year, including 300 meals to be delivered Wednesday morning.

Brown thanked the arsenal of soup kitchen volunteers and community partners, including businesses, who make donations to the church’s food ministry.

“What would we do without them? They are extremely important. Without their assistance, this would be an impossible task,” Brown said.

The meals will include, but not be limited to, turkey, stuffing, ham, rice, string beans, a roll, fruit and cake for dessert.

The church normally gives out food bags every Wednesday, along with cooked meals every second and fourth Friday. Brown said the need has risen, but that God has also provided.

“We can’t do it without him,” he said.

Orangeburg resident Jacqueline Garrett, founder of the nonprofit Mothers Against Gun Violence, will be distributing free dinners to the homeless beginning at 12:30 p.m. and for as long as they last Wednesday, Nov. 27 at the Orangeburg County Library at 1645 Russell St. in Orangeburg. It’s the second annual event.

Garrett said the food is a gift from the heart. She presents it in memory of her son, Joshua, who was murdered six years ago.

“It was important for me because I often think about my son and how he helped others when he was here. He died in such a horrific and tragic way that I felt the need to do what he laid on my heart to do, along with my lord and savior. I give what I can,” she said.

Garrett said the meal will consist of yellow rice, collard greens or lima beans, chicken, tea and possibly dessert.

“It doesn’t take a lot to give. This is something I’m paying for out of my pocket. I could have taken that change and been doing a lot of things that really needed to be done because I’ve been through a fire back in March. But my thing is I’m still standing and able to be blessed to pass what God has passed to me to somebody else,” she said.

On Thanksgiving Day, five churches are coming together for a Thanksgiving feast.

The free, sit-down meal will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Downtown Market Pavilion at 1326 Russell St. in Orangeburg. The event is open to the public and has been held since 2003.

“We’re doing the Thanksgiving meals differently this year. We’re going to sit down and eat together,” said Norma Sells, a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

Last year, the meals were take-out only and distributed at the First Baptist Church of Orangeburg.

“We love Jesus. We do it because we’re Jesus’ hands and feet. … Just come out and eat with us. We have yet to run out of food,” Sells said.

Turkey, dressing, rice and gravy, green beans, sweet potato casserole, macaroni and cheese and cranberry sauce are among the items being served up.

Participating churches include St. Paul’s UMC, First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, Trinity UMC and Unity Fellowship Community Church.

Other groups are also demonstrating their love for their communities on Thanksgiving.

Jean Self, secretary at Denmark First Baptist Church, said the church is continuing the work of late church member and Denmark resident Mary Polasky.

Polasky, who died in 2021, was a member of Feed My Sheep Ministries. The ministry is a coalition of several Denmark churches and members of the Denmark-Olar High School class of 1983.

It has held two community drive-through Thanksgiving Day dinners for many years.

Self said plans are underway for the Thanksgiving meals this year.

“We just love to be able to feed the community and let everybody know that God loves them,” Self said.

The meals will include turkey, sweet potatoes, dressing and gravy, green beans and a dessert.

One community dinner will be distributed from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at St. Philip’s Apostolic Church located at 78 5th St. in Olar.

Another community Thanksgiving Day lunch will be distributed from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at Denmark-Olar High School, Heritage Highway in Denmark.

Meals can be picked up at the elementary entrance of the school.

Self said the meal giveaway will be drive-through only. She said meals can also be delivered by calling Denmark First Baptist Church at 803-793-3690.