(Photo by Douglass Huxley) Volunteers at Norwood United Methodist Church in Marietta put together over 600 individual Thanksgiving meals Thursday that included ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie.

PARKERSBURG — Organizers and volunteers began their day early Thursday as they prepared Thanksgiving meals for many in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

“We had a bunch of volunteers that came in around 7 o’clock in the morning, 8 o’clock, to help out, box the meals up and bring them outside,” said Shaun Harris, program coordinator at Norwood United Methodist Church in Marietta. “And we also have volunteers that came that deliver food to people that cannot drive.”

The church has been providing Thanksgiving meals for people throughout Washington County for over 20 years. Harris said this year a record 620 meals were prepared – over 100 more than last year.

“We’re just giving back to the community, to the ones that are not able to have meals and things,” he said.

Harris said the meals included turkey, ham, green beans, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, as well as pies put together by Scout Troop 203, who are sponsored by the church. The success of the endeavor hinges on the teamwork of about 20 to 22 volunteers, who give up their holiday morning to help others, he said.

(Photo by Douglass Huxley) Kaleb Mackie, a member of Scout Troop 203, puts together the last touches of Thanksgiving meals Thursday at the Norwood United Methodist Church in Marietta. Volunteers cooked, assembled and delivered over 600 meals throughout Washington County.

“I really appreciate the volunteers that come out, give up their time with their families and stuff to help other families, to pass out Thanksgiving dinners to them,” Harris said. “We have a lot of volunteers that come in, start opening the cans of green beans, cooking the green beans, picking up the turkey and ham from IGA, making the gravy. When we come in the morning, it is already pretty much ready to go.”

Harris said the group usually has all their meals out by noon.

The Salvation Army of Parkersburg and its volunteers prepared 1,500 meals this week for residents of Wood, Wirt, Pleasants and Ritchie counties on Thanksgiving, Maj. Marjorie Rowe said. Volunteers started getting ready for deliveries at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, while individuals began picking up meals around 11 a.m.

“It’s awesome,” Parkersburg resident Clarissa Tallhamer said as she carried takeout meals back to her car. “I’m really glad (they) do this.”

Vienna residents Larry and Kristi Bond and their daughter Aly have volunteered to help with the effort for the last six years.

(Photo by Douglass Huxley) Volunteers at Norwood United Methodist Church in Marietta braved the cold Thursday to put together over 600 individual Thanksgiving meals that included ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie.

“There’s so much food poverty. I think it’s important (that we, as a) community, take care of each other,” Kristi Bond said.

First Christian Church on Washington Avenue in Parkersburg has provided meals to the community on Thanksgiving for 17 years. They stopped in 2020 due to the pandemic, but offered takeout meals the next year, church member Becky Cutlip said.

On Thursday, they resumed in-person dining.

“We’ve missed it,” Cutlip said. “It’s just more fun this way.”

Parkersburg resident Kaytie McPeek and her family had volunteered to help with the in-person meals, even though they don’t attend the church.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Parkersburg resident Clarissa Tallhamer, right, picks up Thanksgiving meals at the Salvation Army of Parkersburg Thursday as volunteers Don Miller, left, and William Wimer man the table.

“I was very excited to hear they were doing it again,” she said. “I really enjoy just being able to help the community and give to people who don’t have as much.”

Parkersburg resident Betty Camp was glad to have the chance to sit down for the meal.

“It’s great to be back in a place where we can meet up with people and enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner,” she said.

Parkersburg resident Susan Buchanan agreed.

“(It) gives me somewhere to go. I don’t have anyone to cook for me,” she said.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Belleville resident Millie Fleak, left, and her mother Heather scoop mashed potatoes into a takeout box for fellow volunteer Vera Greenwalt of Little Hocking Thursday at the Salvation Army of Parkersburg.

In Williamstown, American Legion Post 159 held its 21st annual community Thanksgiving meal, a tradition volunteer Darla Van Horn said brings together volunteers, legion members and residents in a collaborative effort to ensure no one goes without a holiday feast.

“We are trying to have a community meal, to have people who want to come in and eat, have a meal where they can visit, talk with people, communicate, as well as people that are in their homes who can’t get out or are able to pick up their meals, but don’t want to be around other people, maybe because they’re sick or something like that, they can pick up meals as well,” Van Horn said. “So we kind of offer it three different ways so that everybody can enjoy the meal one way or another.”

She said this year’s meals included traditional favorites like mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, noodles, rolls and dessert.

“Lots and lots of dessert,” Van Horn said.

She said it takes around 20 volunteers to coordinate deliveries, packaging and in-house dining. “We usually try to sit down and break bread with those people before we start, so that we are also enjoying a meal today,” Van Horn said.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Marietta resident Amy Frame, right, scoops stuffing into takeout boxes held by fellow volunteer Hunter Johnson of Washington, W.Va., Thursday at the Salvation Army of Parkersburg.

The event has become a tradition for a lot of families who return every year to donate their time to others, she said.

“We have a family who has come every year for as long as I can remember,” Van Horn said. “This whole family cuts all the desserts up and packages them. But they also make little things to put in the boxes, like Thanksgiving Day arts and crafts that they send home with them. … And every year they come and work on that and send little crafts and projects home in each bag, so they get a little more joy on that end.”

Van Horn said no one is turned away whether they are in need of a meal or just looking for some company.

“I definitely enjoy seeing all the faces, talking with them, knowing that they got a really good meal and filled their bellies up,” Van Horn said.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Parkersburg resident Jennifer Ludlow carries takeout meals upstairs at the Salvation Army of Parkersburg while volunteering to assist with Thanksgiving meal distribution on Thursday.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) A sign welcomes people to the free Thanksgiving meal at First Christian Church in Parkersburg on Thursday.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Napkins and cutlery await people dining at the Thanksgiving meal Thursday at First Christian Church in Parkersburg.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) From left, Vincent resident Delmas Thomas and Parkersburg residents Donna Sayger, Susan Buchanan and Betty Camp eat together at the Thanksgiving luncheon provided by First Christian Church in Parkersburg Thursday.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) From left, Aslyn Strauss, Caden Strauss, Everett French, Brett French and Carter Strauss serve up meals Thursday at First Christian Church in Parkersburg.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Emma Greynolds, center, eats lunch with her grandfathers from both sides of the family – Ben Winland, left, and Guy Greynolds – Thursday at First Christian Church in Parkersburg.