With perfect fall weather as the backdrop, around 200 people gathered Sunday for plates of turkey, ham and all the fixings at First United Methodist Church in downtown Lafayette.
The free community Thanksgiving meal is a 25-year tradition for the church, said pastor Nancy Wofford. The execution is simple, with other ministries from the neighborhood and region joining to serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal set up al fresco in the church’s parking lot.
“We love to serve. Our church motto is to serve,” said First United Methodist member Margaret Landry, who chaired the planning committee for this year’s dinner. She was joined by volunteers from Asbury United Methodist, Faith Community Church, The Salvation Army, Wesley Campus Ministry, Northwood United Methodist, Trinity CME Church and Angels Preparing Nations, a downtown Lafayette outreach ministry based at 315 Johnston St.
Last year, the community Thanksgiving served around 160 meals, and volunteers said they expected to exceed that number at this year’s dinner, which is free and open to all. “We have been given great gifts, and we want to share them with everybody,” said Wofford, pastor at FUMC.
Dwight’s Restaurant cooked the turkey, and the rest of the food included classic sides like rice and cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole and sweet corn, prepared by volunteers. Dessert was apple pie, pecan pie or pumpkin pie…