The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance is continuing to meet the needs in our community by hosting the annual Thanksgiving Day Feast on Thursday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall at 2350 E. Eighth.

Pam Burgardt and her Rose Garden Banquet Hall staff have, for the last nine years, provided the delicious meals Thanksgiving day. Since 2007, a partnership of cooperating Ellis County Churches and other community volunteers helped feed those who did not have a place to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. This year, ECMA Co-chairs Celeste Lasich, Kyle Ermoian and First Call For Help’s Linda Mills, who serve as hosts, believe there will be around 700 guests.

The ACCESS van will be available to pick up people who need rides. The ACCESS offices are closed on Thanksgiving Day, so those needing a ride will have to make arrangements the day beforehand by calling 628-1052.

Two Celebration Community Church vans full of non perishable groceries that were collected last Saturday will be sacked Wednesday night at 5:30 pm at the Banquet Hall.

Last year with the cooperation of a generous public, ECMA gave out after the dinner over 400 bags of food for the people who needed them.

If you would like to contribute to this event, make your tax-deductible donations payable to E.C.M.A., P.O. Box 173, Hays, KS. Please memo your checks “Thanksgiving Dinner.” Any extra proceeds after the cost of the meals will go into E.C.M.A.’s Second Mile Fund, which assists Ellis County needy people throughout the year.

Over 100 volunteers are needed. If you would like to volunteer to help, call First Call for Help at (785) 623-2800