Salvation Army to hold Thanksgiving dinners in Yuma, Somerton

The Salvation Army plans to put Thanksgiving on the table for two communities Wednesday, with free meals being offered in south county as well as Yuma.

The non-profit organization has offered free meals in Yuma for years. But this year meals will also be served in Somerton.

"Responding to the dramatic increase in demand for services this holiday season, The Salvation Army will prepare to serve 1,000 meals, more than double last year's effort," said Capt. Jonathan Harvey.

Both meals will be served from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The serving site in Yuma will be the Boys and Girls Club, 1100 S. 13th Ave. Meals in Somerton, meanwhile, will be served at the Somerton Community Center. For more information call 783-0181.

Harvey said he'd like to see the Thanksgiving meals become an annual tradition in Somerton.

"We are interested in expanding our services into south county and east county regions because we see there are great needs out there," he said. "It's our long-term dream to have satellite centers in Wellton, Somerton and San Luis."

A major focus of the free meals will be their serving style. Guests will not be required to stand in line for food, which instead will be brought right to the table.

"We just want families to be comfortable, to just sit down and be waited on and treated like the special people they are," Harvey said. "Just because people are struggling financially doesn't mean they are any less as people. These dinners show them they do matter and people in these communities do care about them."

Meals in Somerton will be served by the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

Yuma's meals will be handled by a "small army" of 60-70 volunteers. Harvey expressed his thanks for already having enough people signed up to help.

"At this point we're in very good shape. This community is just incredible when it comes to supporting things like this and helping people," he said. "The only thing we need right now are additional pies."

Pie donations can be dropped off at 600 W. Catalina Drive.

Financial donations can also be delivered there or mailed to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 6227, Yuma, AZ 85366.

"We are just asking the community to continue their support so we are able to take care of people," Harvey said, adding with a chuckle, "And don't pass by a red kettle!"