I would like to thank everyone who had a part in our serving the free Thanksgiving Day meal.

This year we served 589 meals to a variety of people such as those who were shut in, unemployed, lonely and needy individuals and families.

With the help of our friends, we prepared 30 turkeys this year and used 150 pounds of cabbage for coleslaw and 100 loaves of bread for dressing, 48 gallons of green beans were served and several gallons of mashed potatoes were made.

There is no way we could do this alone; I am thankful for the financial and food assistance given by individuals, churches, schools, businesses and civic clubs, and also for the more than 60 volunteers that gave up their holiday to make this meal a success.

I truly believe that our community is such a caring community and every year they do what they can to see that others have a good meal on Thanksgiving.

Now the mission is reaching out again to this community to help those who are less fortunate.

Last Christmas we gave food to 772 families and new toys to 1,294 children. Some of the people that we are helping this year are families with two working parents who have never asked for help before, but cannot make enough money to provide Christmas for their family.

If you would like to make a monetary gift to the mission or bring us some new toys, our address is City Welfare Mission, 710 N. Fifth St., Ironton, OH, 45638.

If you need more information or need the mission truck to pick up your donation, you can call the office at (740) 532-5041.

Let me thank you in advance for doing what you can and may each of you have a Merry Christmas.

Rev. Jeff Cremeans is the pastor and director at the Ironton City Mission.