Area businesses, churches and organizations will prepare and offer free Thanksgiving dinners to those in need on Thanksgiving Day.
The Schuylkill Council of the Knights of Columbus is in its sixth year of preparing and delivering dinners.
"Right now, we have 750 orders that have already come in," Ron Whalen, treasurer of Schuylkill Council 431, said Friday at the Knights building on North Sixth Street in Pottsville.
The Knights are prepared to serve 1,500 meals. Last year, the group distributed 1,300 meals.
A meal consists of stuffing, turkey with gravy on top, yams/sweet potatoes, corn, bread, cranberry sauce and dessert. The deadline to register is 5 p.m. Thursday, and those interested can register online at council431.webs.com/ or call 570-691-1429 or 570-628-3333.
The food will be delivered between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers help prepare, serve and deliver the food.
"We always need volunteers," Whalen said.
Volunteers are asked to arrive at 106 N. Sixth St., Pottsville, by 7:30 a.m. The food will be dished out starting at 9 a.m. until it is finished, about 2:30 p.m.
Whalen said about 100 volunteers usually help with the effort, and local businesses and people donate food, supplies and money.
"We couldn't do it by ourselves," he said.
To donate, send a check to Knights of Columbus, 106 N. Sixth St., Pottsville, PA 17901. Funds may also be dropped off at the building.
Area EMTs will also receive free meals on Thanksgiving Day from the Knights. A list will be provided by the Schuylkill County Communications Center.
As for businesses serving dinners, The All American Cafe will mark its fourth year of serving Thanksgiving dinners from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 28.
Gene Breines, who owns the restaurant with his wife, June, said about 80 people signed up to receive dinners as of Friday afternoon. Last year, 105 people registered and 160 had dinner at the restaurant.
Breines said he expects to serve 160 or more this Thanksgiving. The meals will consist of turkey, filling, mashed potatoes, sweat potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and dessert, probably a slice of cake or pie.
The turkeys will be cooked this weekend and sliced Nov. 25. Last year, Breines said he cooked 13 turkeys.
"Donations are always greatly accepted," he said.
While the Salvation Army of Pottsville, 400 Sanderson St., is serving a Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 28, Thanksgiving baskets of stuffing, potatoes, turkey, cranberries, fruits and vegetables will be distributed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 25 to those who qualified and registered to receive them.
The Holy Apostles' Episcopal Parish Hall, Nicholas and Hancock streets, Saint Clair, invites those who want to eat a Thanksgiving meal to the parish hall on Nov. 28. People may dine in, take out or have their meals delivered, with delivery beginning at 11 a.m., takeouts starting at noon and dinner served at 1 p.m.
Those interested may call 570-429-2272 or 570-874-4532.
Another business, Coal Cracken BBQ, 22 Saint John St., Schuylkill Haven, is offering a free Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 570-294-1775.