St. John Lutheran Church is once again sponsoring its annual Thanksgiving meal program for local residents in need of assistance during the holiday season.

“We’ve been doing this since 1982 — this is our 27th year,” said St. John Pastor Katherine Pasch. “We started out small with 25 meals. The congregation just recognized the need to feed hungry people in the community — people who otherwise wouldn’t have a Thanksgiving meal. Over the years, it’s really grown.”

Saying the Thanksgiving meal program has “really grown” could well be considered a tremendous understatement when considering the number now served.

“We delivered 1,100 meals last year and it will be at least 1,500 this year,” Pasch said.

Rather than such a dramatic increase proving to be a daunting task for just one congregation, the program now offers other local churches an opportunity to help those in need.

“About 10 years ago, the program had grown so large that other churches began to help,” Pasch said, explaining that different congregations provide different portions of the traditional Thanksgiving meal that includes turkey, dressing, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, fresh fruit, a roll and pie for dessert.

The hundreds of meals to be served Thursday will be enjoyed by residents of Pike, Spalding and Lamar counties and beyond.

“This year, we even had a request from Meriwether County, so we’ll be going there,” Pasch said. “Letters go out in September asking agencies such as the Department of Family and Children Services and McIntosh Trail for the names of people who may be in need of assistance. Other people call in. We actually had someone call us in October this year because they knew we do this every year.”

For those in need of assistance, Pasch said St. John will accept meal requests through Wednesday.

“They can call the church office at 770-228-0062,” she said.

For those who would like to help with the annual program, it is not too late to volunteer.

“For the delivery on Thursday, we count on people who volunteer to deliver the meals — that’s another huge way people can help,” Pasch said. “They should come to the church anywhere from 10 to 11:30 (a.m.). We’ll give them maps and food and send them on their way.”

St. John Lutheran Church is at 1689 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, next to Ingles.