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Sheriff, county commissioner work with local church for fourth annual event

 

COLUMBUS—Polk County Commissioner Paul Beiler and Sheriff Tim Wright are working with Foothills Community Chapel to provide free Thanksgiving meals to those less fortunate in Polk County for the fourth year.

Sheriff Wright initially came up with the idea to provide a free Thanksgiving meal in the county and approached Commissioner Beiler, who thought it was something his church, Foothills Community Chapel, would want to be involved with.

“We try to do this every year, to get it together for needy families for the holiday season,” said Sheriff Wright. “Just a little token to give back to the community.”

Last year, the church provided 200 boxed dinners for families, which were hand-delivered by Sheriff Wright and Polk County deputies. This year, the church expects to prepare around 250 to 275 plates. This will also be the first time the church will open its doors for the community meal; families will have the option of eating at the church, or picking up food from the church and taking it home.

“If you don’t have a place to have lunch or you don’t have family [to spend Thanksgiving with], or you want community, you are welcome,” said Belier.

Beiler and Wright said they wanted to ensure no one is alone during this holiday season. 

“There are elderly in the community and people that have lost loved ones and things like that that may not have family around. So, opening up the church to individuals there within the community, I think is a very good idea,” said Sheriff Wright.

The event will be at Foothills Community Chapel, located at 2720 Landrum Rd. in Columbus, on November 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more info, call 828-817-8982, email admin@fcchapel.org, or contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Department at 828-894-3001.