People celebrate holidays in a lot of different ways, but it’s safe to say most Thanksgivings involve lots of food.

Unless they can’t. Too many families in our community suffer from food insecurity, which means they don’t have consistent access to enough food for every person in the household to thrive. For them, there are many Lawrence County organizations and churches offering food for Thanksgiving and year-round. We can all be thankful for the work they do.

Resources are listed below for local residents who need food, and for those who can share their blessings through them. Please share as you can.

THANKSGIVING

American Legion Post 63, 250 International Drive, Lawrenceburg. Thanksgiving supper free for Veterans, Members, Friends, or anyone in need of food or fellowship. 3-7 p.m. November 24, Thanksgiving Day.

Ethridge First Baptist Church, giving away 40 Thanksgiving Meal Kits Wednesday November 23, 2-4 p.m., one box per car. 206 Walnut Avenue, line begins from Lincoln Avenue.

Leoma Café, Thanksgiving Day, 2571 Hwy. 43, Leoma. Free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., eat in or limit 2 takeouts. Cash donations are accepted to purchase gifts for any children who are not adopted from the Café’s Angel Tree.

YEAR-ROUND

Sonset Fellowship, 309 Columbia Avenue, houses a food pantry that gives boxes of food away the third Thursday of each month, from 3 p.m. until they are gone. For emergency food needs, call 479-453-9957.

John 6:35 Ministries, 2300 W.O. Smith Street, Lawrenceburg (shares this building with Buffalo River Services). Gives away primarily fresh produce – a variety of fruits and vegetables – and some nonperishables. Boxes are given out regularly but since quantities vary, please call to get on the list of recipients: 931-477-6377.

Hope Haven Pregnancy Center at 249 Mahr Avenue, Lawrenceburg, is open Mondays from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with limited supplies of baby formula, cereal, and food to give away. To learn what is available, or make donations, message 931-244-6878 or the Hope Haven Pregnancy Center Facebook page at any time. 

Loaves & Fishes Food Bank, First United Methodist Church, Lawrenceburg. Open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-11 a.m. Recipients can get food boxes, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other necessities every 30 days. Also available now are coats, scarves, and gloves. Donations can be made at any time, call 762-3696 for information.

God’s Storehouse, 425 Franke Street, Lawrenceburg. Food and clothing are available, recipients are eligible for help once per month. Open Tuesdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wednesdays 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. First-time recipients should bring ID, mail that shows the names of all adults in the household, and proof of income. Call 766-1275 for information about donating

Lawrence County School System Family Resource Center, 610 Mahr Avenue, Lawrenceburg, accepts donations of kid-friendly, nonperishable foods and toiletry items. Students and families in need are referred by their respective schools.

Senior Center Meals on Wheels, or onsite - Meals are available at the Lawrence County Senior Center, 220 Centennial Blvd., Lawrenceburg, Monday through Friday. Home delivery is available to those who qualify. Please make reservations 48 hours before you need a non-scheduled meal by calling Heidi Horton at 931-762-1578. ​Volunteers are always needed for deliveries; please call Heidi for information.

St. Joseph Senior Center, 119 S. Main Street, St. Joseph. Call 931-845-4194 for meal schedules.

Loretto Senior Center, 204 W. Commerce St., Lawrenceburg. Call 931-853-4336 for meal schedules.

United Church, 716 South Locust Avenue, Lawrenceburg, offers food assistance to those in need. Call 931-762-8715 for more information.

First United Pentecostal Church, 1103 Springer Rd., Lawrenceburg, offers a free dinner the third Thursday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m.; and delivered meals to shut-ins the third Tuesday of each month. For more information about the meals, please call Bro. Bobby French at 731-676-3166.

COMMUNITY MEALS are hosted by a different local church each Saturday. The upcoming calendar includes:

December 3: Mars Hill United Methodist provides the meal at First United Methodist Christian Life Center, 212 Waterloo Street, Lawrenceburg. This is the location for all first Saturday meals, every other month it is provided by Antioch United Methodist.

December 10: First United Methodist hosts at its CLC every second Saturday.

December 17: Coleman United Methodist, 322 North Military, Lawrenceburg, hosts every third Saturday

December 24: Christmas Eve, no meal scheduled

December 31: New Year’s Eve, no meal scheduled

We will provide fourth and fifth Saturday locations for January on the “Lawrence County Tennessee Government” Facebook page.

BLESSING BOXES are available throughout the county for people to donate and receive food. Please make or pick up donations at these locations:

*First Baptist Church, 2100 Springer Road, Lawrenceburg

*Coleman Memorial United Methodist Church, (across from its 323 North Military Ave., Lawrenceburg sanctuary)

*The Leoma Café, 2571 Highway 43 S., Leoma

*Word of Life Ministries, 3 Rabbit Trail Rd., Leoma

*West Gaines Church of Christ, 420 West Gaines St., Lawrenceburg

*Lawrence County Health Department, 2379 Buffalo Rd., Lawrenceburg

*Loretto Library, 102 South Main St., Loretto

*Ethridge Elementary, 33 Main St., Ethridge

*Ingram Sowell Elementary, 510 7th St., Lawrenceburg

*Summertown Medical Clinic, 4955 Highway 43 N., Summertown

*Summertown Elementary, 319 Corbin St., Summertown

*Summertown Quik Mart, 9170 Hwy. 43 N., Summertown

*Summertown High School, 411 W. College St., Summertown

*Greater Tabernacle Baptist Church, 320 Suzanne Street, Lawrenceburg

*New Prospect Community Center/ Fire Hall 4420 Pulaski Hwy., Lawrenceburg

*Highland Park Baptist Church, 709 First Ave., Lawrenceburg

*Harmony Church of the Nazarene, 904 3rd Ave., Lawrenceburg

*David Crockett Elementary School 2301 West Gaines St., Lawrenceburg

*Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church 74 Red Hill-Center Rd., Lawrenceburg

*Sonset Fellowship, 309 North Columbia Avenue, Lawrenceburg (also accepts clothing, blankets, etc.)

*McMasters Home Gallery, 311 N Military St., Loretto

*Unity Church of God, 261 Piney Rd., Lawrenceburg

*St Joseph Freewill Baptist Church, 47 Bluff Rd., Saint Joseph

*Ethridge Methodist Church, 49 Main St., Ethridge

*Saint Joseph Barber Shop, 158 N Main St., St Joseph

*First Baptist Church, Ethridge, 206 Walnut Ave., Ethridge

*Lawrenceburg Public School, 600 Prosser Rd., Lawrenceburg

*Gandy Volunteer Fire Department, 972 W. Point Rd., Lawrenceburg

*American Legion Post 63, 250 International Dr., Lawrenceburg

 *Dixie Youth baseball and softball field, 123 Ball Park Rd., Summertown

*Mars Hill United Methodist Church, 637 Weakly Creek Rd., Lawrenceburg

*Southeast Lawrence Fire Hall, 6 Owens Road, Five Points

*Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1890 Buffalo Road, Seven Day Adventist Church, Lawrenceburg

*Deerfield Baptist, 3 Paul Orton Road, Lawrenceburg

*First United Methodist Church, 222 Waterloo St., Lawrenceburg (also accepts clothing, blankets, etc.)

If any resources are not included in this list, please let my office know by calling 766-4131 or messaging Lawrence County Tennessee Government on Facebook.