SULLIVAN, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)- With Thanksgiving just a days away, local organizations and churches are preparing meals for their community.
In 2002, Kristi Irwin says she lost her father Wally King after he had a sudden heart attack.
“He was the healthiest person I know and so it was just a shock and then to try to think of all the things he did,” said Irwin, Wally King Angel Network.
Among many things that Wally did to positively impact his community was host a free dinner on Thanksgiving day in the Sullivan area.
“I remember helping my dad as a kid and I remember helping families and the looks on their faces and just the gratitude,” Irwin said.
To carry her father’s legacy Irwin has taken charge of this event, which has ran for 22 years, with the past 17 of those happening at Joe’s Italian Food.
“People will come in and they will be seated and they will be waited on hand and foot. We’ll get their meal, their drink, their pie,” Irwin said.
Along with Irwin’s dinner are several others traditions in the Valley aimed to make the holidays special for their community.
This includes a dinner at the Linton First Christian Church expected to serve 1,500.
“We’ve been doing this for a little over 20 years and it’s just something that we feel like god has blessed us, so we can reach out bless others in the community,” said Kelly Zimmerly, member of Linton First Christian Church.
Zimmerly says her church’s Thanksgiving dinner is about bringing people together.
“We do it not just for those that may be financially needed but those that just need some companionship and fellowship on thanksgiving day,” Zimmerly said.
The Wally King Angel Network Thanksgiving dinner will take place Thursday from 10:30 A.M. Until 1:30 P.M. The dinner will happen at Joe’s Italian Food in Sullivan. Irwin says a traditional thanksgiving meal will be served. The dinner is free of charge.
The Linton First Christian Church dinner will run from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. That dinner will be located at their church on State Road 54. Zimmerly also says a traditional thanksgiving meal will be served. This event is also free of charge.
Both locations are offering dine-in, carryout, and delivery, depending on location.
