By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance is once again hosting the annual Thanksgiving Day Feast Nov. 26 at noon.

Ellis County churches, for the eighth year in a row, will partner with the Rose Garden Banquet Hall, 2350 E. Eighth, to provide a meal for those who do not have a place to enjoy Thanksgiving.

According to the ECMA, over 800 turkey dinners were served last year. Organizers of the event expect this year to be even bigger.

Volunteers will also be collecting nonperishable food items this Saturday, Nov. 21, at both Dillon’s locations and Walmart from 9am-5pm. The food that is collected that day will then be bagged and then handed out at the Thanksgiving Day Feast.

According to ECMA Co-chairman and Celebration Community Church Senior Pastor Kyle Ermoian, they provided almost 500 bags of food for people in need not only on Thanksgiving Day, but for the weeks ahead.

Organizers are looking for volunteers to help sack the collected food Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and to help serve the meal at noon on Thursday. Those interested in volunteering can call First Call for Help at (785) 623-2800.

The ACCESS van will be available to provide rides to those needing a ride on Thursday but the officers are closed on Thanksgiving Day so those needing a ride will have to make arrangements beforehand.