Free Thanksgiving Meal

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courtesy Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

A past Thanksgiving meal at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

A past Thanksgiving meal at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

It’s only fitting that on a holiday that is meant to give thanks for the harvest, the “haves” make sure that those who have not can also relish the traditional Turkey Day meal. There are various options. Delta Beer Lab’s community Thanksgiving is a traditional turkey dinner served cafeteria style, from 3-5 p.m. The first 150 people to call Delta at 608-640-4500 or register here will be prioritized for food, others will be admitted after. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5701 Raymond Road, hosts its traditional free Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. No RSVP necessary. Slice's Bar & Grill serves a traditional Thanksgiving dinner either carryout or dine-in buffet; call the bar at 608-243-6925 to reserve a meal. Free, but donations are appreciated and will go to the Goodman Food Pantry. Check Facebook for serving times. Lakeview Lutheran Church, 4001 Mandrake Road, is serving Thanksgiving dinner at noon; RSVP 608-244-6181. And Luke House, 310 S. Ingersoll St., hosts a Thanksgiving meal from 4-5 p.m.

media release: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – A local church that has made Thanksgiving Day a day to connect to their community through food will celebrate a special milestone this year.

For the 30th consecutive year, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will hold a community Thanksgiving Day meal from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 28. The meal will be served at their Madison location, 5701 Raymond Road in Madison (on the southwest corner of Raymond Road and Whitney Way.) 

Leaders at the church says the milestone is important. “A lot has changed since we served that first community meal on Thanksgiving in 1994,” said Pastor of Community Partnerships Dara Schuller-Hanson. “Back then, our church only had one campus. Now, we have two. We went through COVID-19, when we had to set up a drive-thru to serve a meal on Thanksgiving Day. But through it all, our commitment to serving our community hasn’t changed.”

This year, the church plans to add vegetarian and gluten-free options to the menu. Since 1994, the church has expanded their focus on feeding the community through the use of their Holy COW food truck, which served more than 6500 meals this year at 66 different events. Now, the Thanksgiving meal has become just a part of the larger food offerings provided by the church.

Schuller-Hanson expects to serve around 400 meals for neighbors and congregational members at this year’s event. “Everyone is welcome to come. Everyone. Without exception,” said Schuller-Hanson. “Welcome is part of our church’s mission and our strategic plan. So, everyone is welcome, whether they just don’t want to cook this year, or they want to enjoy spending time with others to enjoy Thanksgiving.”

More than 50 volunteers from the church and the community will help serve the traditional dinner, which includes turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pie, plus all the trimmings! There is no cost for the meal. 

Media wishing to get pictures or video at the meal should call before Thanksgiving Day to let the church know they are coming or check in with Pr. Dara Schuller-Hanson or Rick Thomas the day of the event. We want to make sure someone attending doesn’t object to being put on camera. Media are also welcome to come Tuesday or Wednesday to cover preparations for the event. If you need to get a hold of someone on Thanksgiving Day, call the numbers on the press release, since the main office will be closed.