A lot of people did their grocery shopping Saturday for this Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday  In Hays, volunteers at the two Dillons grocery stores and Wal-Mart asked shoppers to add a little more to their list.

The extra purchases of non-perishable food items will be bagged by more volunteers Wednesday night and distributed to  people attending the annual community Thanksgiving Day dinner sponsored by the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance.

Ken and Connie Staab, members of the Celebration Community Church, have volunteered the past 5 years to ask for the grocery donations.  Connie says it helps feed people for more than just Thanksgiving Day.

The event is co-chaired by Pastors Kyle Ermoian of Celebration Community Church, and  Lesley Radius of Trinity Lutheran Church. The Ministerial Alliance partners with Pam Burgardt of Bakery Shop Catering Company, who cooks the dinner.

The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance Thanksgiving Dinner is absolutely free to everybody.  It will be served Thursday from 11:45 to 1:30 at the National Guard Armory in downtown Hays.  Free transportation will also be provided by the ACCESS van.

More tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.