Concordia Church Served Free Thanksgiving Meals, Community Shows Support

On November 15, Concordia Lutheran Church at 502 First Avenue North in Jamestown hosted the 34th Annual Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner, offering free meals to residents through a drive up distribution and home delivery. The church, located across from Loaf and Jug, operated the meal service from 11 am to 1 pm and directed patrons to use the alley at the north end of the block for pick up. Organizers did not open the dining room, focusing instead on take away and delivery to reach as many people as possible.

The meal was available to anyone, including single people, parents, families, those working on the holiday, college students, travelers, and people who did not want to cook. The menu included turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and dessert. Delivery service ran during the same midday window to accommodate residents who could not travel to the church.

This was the 34th year the church organized the Thanksgiving meal, a long running tradition that has become a holiday safety net for many local households. For a rural county economy with thin margins for some families, a free holiday meal can reduce immediate grocery spending and ease short term budget pressures. Community organized meals like this also supplement public assistance programs and private food purchases, providing direct relief at a moment when many households face elevated costs during the holiday season.

The drive up model used by Concordia reduces barriers for residents with limited mobility or tight schedules, and allows volunteers to serve efficiently while maintaining a predictable flow. Signage in the alley guided traffic and volunteers coordinated delivery routes during the two hour window. The approach reflects an operational adjustment that many community meal providers have adopted to expand reach and manage volunteer capacity.

Beyond the immediate cost relief, recurring events such as this strengthen social cohesion and mutual aid networks that are crucial in smaller communities. Local volunteers, donors and organizers contribute time and food supplies, and the continuity of a 34 year program signals steady community investment in collective welfare. While this event does not replace broader policy solutions to food insecurity, it provides measurable short term assistance and highlights the importance of supporting both emergency and ongoing food access programs in Stutsman County.

Let’s all have a blessed Thanksgiving.