The Salvation Army doles out turkey dinners

The Salvation Army kicked off the holiday season of giving Monday, distributing 100 Thanksgiving dinner boxes to Lawrence residents.

“It’s the right thing to do,” said shelter manager Liz Coleman as she distributed the boxes from the basement of the Salvation Army building, 946 N.H.

Families, many with small children in tow, dropped in to pick up the boxes, filled with turkey, dressing, vegetables and the fixings for pie.

The agency is expected to distribute 160 food boxes this year, up from 100 last year. Recipients must apply in advance and qualify.

“I think it’s awesome,” Lawrence resident Carol Mendell said of the program. “I couldn’t afford a turkey and stuff on my own. We’d probably be eating hamburger or something otherwise.”

For The Salvation Army, the Thanksgiving food boxes are the first event in a series that marks the holiday season. Next comes the Share the Warmth program, which distributes coats. And then there’s toy distribution.

“This is just the beginning,” said Sue Dalberg, co-administrator of The Salvation Army.

In other Thanksgiving programs, St. John the Evangelist Church volunteers will deliver more than 200 dinners to residents Thursday.

Also Thursday, the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen (LINK) will host more than 200 people at its Community Thanksgiving Dinner at First Christian Church, 1000 Ky.

“We have an incredible Thanksgiving menu,” said Herman Leon, LINK board vice president. “There’s going to be all kinds of decorations.”

Leon said LINK gets help from 75 volunteers. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and meals are served from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

“It’s a lovely manifestation of the spirit of Lawrence,” Leon said.