The members of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Mount Joy want to make sure everyone enjoys a homecooked meal on Thanksgiving. For the 18th year, the church will offer a free community Thanksgiving Day dinner on Thursday, Nov. 24. The meal will be available for curbside pickup at The Gathering Place, 6 Pine St., Mount Joy, between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

"We'll be doing the majority of the cooking and prep at The Gathering Place, with some things made at the church," said Janet Lehman, who helps to organize the meal. The Gathering Place offered the use of its facilities for the first time last year after demand for the meal began to outgrow the church's capacity. Last year, more than 700 meals were served.

This year's meal will be slightly different from past offerings. "This year, we're doing ham instead of our usual turkey," Lehman said, explaining that a nationwide shortage of turkey breast separate from whole turkeys prompted the committee to shift to ham. The meal will also include mashed potatoes, filling, sweet potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, applesauce, rolls and butter and dessert.

Volunteers are needed to help prepare the meal on Wednesday, Nov. 23, beginning at 6 p.m. at The Gathering Place. Volunteers are also needed to help on Thanksgiving Day. "It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun," Lehman noted of volunteering. "You'll get to meet a lot of neat people who will be helping out, and you'll get to make a lot of friends." Volunteers might do anything from peeling potatoes to packing food in takeout containers, cleaning up or washing dishes. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact Lehman at 717-653-4189.

Lehman and her husband came up with the idea for the free meal when they found themselves without family nearby to celebrate Thanksgiving one year. They realized there might be others in the community who were looking for food and fellowship to mark the holiday, and the community meal was born.

"It's a good, homecooked meal," Lehman remarked. "It's for anyone who maybe doesn't have family to celebrate with in the community, or maybe they can't afford a Thanksgiving dinner or maybe they just want a good, homemade meal. Everyone is invited."

Reservations are required for the Thanksgiving Day dinner and may be made by calling the church office at 717-653-5493, ext. 222. The reservation deadline is Friday, Nov. 18.