Now just a couple of weeks away, Thanksgiving will be here before we know it … and volunteers are being sought to help put on this year’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

Sponsored by the Escalon Ministerial Association and being coordinated through Heritage Church in Escalon, the dinner will be put on at the Escalon Community Center at 1055 Escalon Ave., set for Thursday, Nov. 26 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

There are many ways to get involved: volunteers are needed to help prepare and serve the meal, set up the day beforehand, clean up afterward, and greet guests coming in for the dinner.

Also sought are financial donations to help put on the dinner; you can visit the Heritage Church website and click on the link to make a one time donation.

During the dinner at the Community Center, volunteers are also needed to sign up and visit with diners as they enjoy the holiday together.

“This is more than a meal – it’s ministry,” the Heritage Church website indicates. “It’s about coming together as the body of Christ, serving with love, and showing our community that no one is forgotten.”

The meal is open to all, free of charge, and a full Thanksgiving dinner is planned, from the turkey and mashed potatoes to stuffing and pumpkin pie.

On Wednesday, Nov. 25 volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to noon for table and décor set up; on Thursday, Nov. 26 there are opportunities for general help, kitchen help and the ‘sit and visit’ crew, all from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; with the clean up crew slots available on Nov. 26 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Visit heritagechurchonline.org for more information, to sign up as a volunteer, or to make a financial donation.

Also, Heritage Church will be the collection site, Nov. 16 through 23, for Operation Christmas Child, which collects and delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to children, including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster. Operation Christmas Child hopes to reach 12.8 million children around the world in 2026. Boxes can include small clothing items, school supplies, toiletries, books and gifts. The site will be open several hours each day for the collection effort.