Local churches are planning to nurture the bodies of the community both spiritually and physically at weekend Thanksgiving events.

Mount Carmel United Methodist Church in Bamberg will hold its first Community Thanksgiving Service and Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the church. Registration and a brief service will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the meal at noon.

The meal is free. Major sponsors of the dinner include Mount Zion UMC, Bamberg Job Corps, Denmark Technical College's Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Bamberg Piggly Wiggly, state Rep. Bakari Sellers and Wilson Law Firm.

"The church's goal is to feed and fellowship with at least 500 people from the community," said Douglas Stokes, president of the Mount Carmel UMC Men, who with his wife, Lisa, are co-chairs of the event.

Stokes said uncooked turkeys are also being collected to donate to families who may not be able to afford one for Thanksgiving. Bamberg Job Corps will hold a food drive and donate baskets to families who do not have the facilities to prepare uncooked turkeys. For more information, call Alice Fleming at 803-245-7550.

In addition to the Thanksgiving event, Mount Carmel will also be accepting toys for the Bamberg County Red Cross Toys for Tots drive. New toys can be donated before or at the Thanksgiving dinner event.

For more information or to make a donation, call Douglas or Lisa Stokes at 803-682-0538 or 803-245-5648.

Also on Saturday, Bethany Full Gospel Church will be serving dinner to the public from noon to 2 p.m. at Zimmerman Youth Center in Orangeburg. Transportation is available. For more information or a ride to the center, call 803-533-1809, 803-874-2106 or 803-536-9968.

And at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, St. George Baptist Church in Orangeburg will hold a Thanksgiving dinner for the community. The event is free and will feature fried turkey, dressing and all the fixings.

For directions to St. George or more information, call the church office at 803-534-3790.

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