Rescue Mission needs desserts, volunteers for annual feast

When someone plans Thanksgiving meals for nearly 2,000 people like the Rev. Greg Kirk, it’s easy to notices when the cost of turkeys goes up.

Kirk organizes the feast each November for the United Gospel Rescue Mission to serve on Thanksgiving day to anyone who comes through the Mission doors at 400 S. Broadway or asks for home delivery of a meal.

“We’ve had great community support,” Kirk said. “We had to pay double the amount for turkeys this year than we’ve ever paid. We had a local person who stepped up and paid $3,500 to buy all the turkeys. We’ve had great community support.”

Businesses including the Daily American Republic, the Bank of Missouri and Bailey’s CARSTAR Auto Body & Glass have made donations to pay for pies, stuffing, different things needed to help with Thanksgiving because the cost of everything is so much more this year, Kirk said.

Desserts are at the top of Kirk’s wish list and he’s asking folks in the community to make or buy a few pies, cakes and cookies and drop them by the mission. Fundraising is continuing now for the effort and cash donations can also help.

“We always need dessert,” he said.

The desserts may be dropped off at the mission Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

Volunteers are also needed to start prepping for the meal from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Drop in to help chop onions, clean and dice celery, peel potatoes and anything else needed to make the meal special.

If Thanksgiving is the only day you have available, don’t feel left out, show up anytime after 8 a.m.

Kirk said there will be plenty of last minute details for volunteers to handle.

“You can come for an hour, you can come for the whole day or you can come for 15 minutes,” Kirk said. “You can do one thing. Families are welcome. We love to see families here.”

Everyone is welcome to come to the mission to enjoy dinner with others in the community. Serving will start about 11 a.m. Thanksgiving day. If you want a meal delivered to your home, call the mission at 573-785-4683. The last day to call is Wednesday, Nov, 23.

“We didn’t have enough drivers last year,” Kirk said. “We really need drivers.”

Anyone who would like to help with deliveries Thanksgiving day should arrive at 10:30 a.m. The Poplar Bluff firefighters have volunteered to give directions to different locations. You can deliver to one location or come back and deliver to more than one.