POINT PLEASANT — The Thanksgiving holiday got off to an early start in Mason County.

On Tuesday, the Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church, located at 8th and Main St., hosted its annual free Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Several residents attended the feast and have fellowship with their friends and neighbors.

The meal, which was prepared by members of the church, consisted of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, vegetables, cake, rolls and more. Those who were unable to attend the dinner received their meals via delivery.

According to Donna Lambert, this year’s meal had an excellent turnout.

“We had a terrific response,” she said. “We had about 60 carry out dinners as well.”

Lambert said 2009 marks the 15th year for the event.

She described the Thanksgiving dinner as one of the many outreach programs that the church does for the community.

“We do the dinner to let the people know that God loves them and to show them God’s love,” she said.

Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church also hosts the Community Easter Egg Hunt, a summer community carnival for children and makes Christmas baskets for families in need each year. In addition, church members run the community clothes closet and food pantry.

For those who missed Tuesday’s dinner, First Church of God in Point Pleasant will host a Thanksgiving meal on Thursday. Yvonne Swisher, a member of the church and wife of Pastor Carl Swisher, has organized the dinner along with other members of the congregation. The church has hosted the meal for the past four years.

“We don’t want anybody to be alone on Thanksgiving,” Swisher said. “We had some older people in the church that would be alone so we decided to do a dinner.”

Swisher added that the meal is mainly for those who do not have family to spend the holiday with. In addition, carry out meals will be delivered to shut-ins. The free meal will include the traditional holiday feast of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and pumpkin pie. Dinner will be served between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

For more information on the First Church of God’s Thanksgiving meal or to arrange carry out, call 304-675-3842 or 304-593-1515.