County Organizations to provide Thanksgiving meal assistance
At least four local organizations will be offering assistance with Thanksgiving meals to those in need this year. Starting on Nov. 21, Gulf County residents will be able to enjoy a free meal or receive assistance with groceries from the following entities.
Free Thanksgiving Dinners
New Beginning Assembly
The congregation at New Beginning Assembly will be hosting their second annual Thanksgiving dinner for residents of Gulf County and Mexico Beach.
While last year the church only offered take-out and delivery meals, this year, they said visitors are welcome to come in to pick up their meal. Take-out and delivery options will still be available to those who need.
Dinner will be distributed Wednesday, Nov. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the church is located at 248 Dolphin Street in Port St. Joe. Those who need more information or are hoping to have a meal delivered are invited to call the church at 850-229-7161 or fill out the following Google Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1RNau5ka39YPlk9hjcEKD51KGEVF32fRM8ariQHxLrDk/viewform?fbclid=IwAR1ZBhFt9CwJs0CyvCCmweX6LSXPhjm6cLjxRNAGlDEEfxFW3UJLhOK-jCQ&edit_requested=true.
Jonathan Rouse Thanksgiving Dinner
Koran Rouse has been serving a Thanksgiving meal for the community in honor of his late brother, Jonathan, since 2018.
The meal will be served in the Washington High School Gymnasium in North Port St. Joe on Sunday, Nov. 21 beginning at 2 p.m.
Rouse can be reached at 850-899-1149 if you are interested in volunteering or need more information.
The Less Fortunate Still Matter Foundation’s Happy Thanksgiving Day Celebration
The Less Fortunate Foundation Still Matters will be hosting their third annual Thanksgiving celebration in the Wewahitchka community.
Dinner will be served from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 21 at Lake Alice Park. The dinner is open to all.
Organizers will be accepting donations for their upcoming Christmas event at the dinner. They ask that checks be made out to The Less Fortunate Still Matter Foundation.
Grocery Assistance
Two Fish
Two Fish, which is run by the United Methodist Church, opened earlier this year to provide assistance with groceries to families in need.
They are offering Thanksgiving bags to registered shoppers, which include a canned ham, stuffing, turnip greens, black-eyed peas, candied yams and peaches. The bags and other groceries are free of charge for registered shoppers who are in need.
The store is located at 212 Williams Avenue. While they will not be open Thanksgiving Day, the market will be open for their regular hours on Wednesday Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.