By: Joleene DesRosiers Moody, Contributing Writer
Thanksgiving is for everyone: Every single one of us that breathes in the air and shares space on this Earth.

It is a time to set judgment aside and extend a helping hand to whoever is in need, no matter their story. No one should go without a decent meal, good conversation and happy company this holiday.

That is why Oswego County works to extend a hand to anyone that could use it, no judgment attached.

What the Salvation Army is doing:

Warm, tasty, homemade foods are part of what the Salvation Army is serving up for roughly 100 area residents on Thanksgiving Day. And if you’re a whip at making pies, the non-profit organization could certainly use them.

“Our guest love dessert,” said Major Kathryn Purvis of the Oswego County Salvation Army. “And apple pie seems to be the preferred favorite. But well take whatever anyone wants to donate. We also need cranberry sauce and stuffing.”

The area non-profit has been organizing the free meal for the last decade. Anyone may come and enjoy the meal.

“Anyone that wants to bring their family is welcome, and anyone that simply doesn’t want to be alone is welcome. Our doors are open. Our purpose is to bring people together,” she said.

The meal is on Thanksgiving Day at:
73 W. Second St., Oswego
noon – 1:30 p.m.

Donations can be brought to the above address between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact the major at (315) 343-6491. (You can also sign up to be a volunteer bell ringer for the annual red kettle drive)

What they need:
Homemade pies of any kind. Apple seems to be a favorite.
Cranberry Sauce
Stuffing

What Human Concerns is doing:
Judi Knopp is the food director at Human Concerns in Oswego. Every Thanksgiving holiday, they work to collect a full course meal for up to 250 families.

But they don’t do it alone.

“Fruit Valley, Ontario Orchards, Gianetto Farms, Ferlito Farms and C’s Farms provide us with the produce. Bosco’s provides us with the turkeys. And the Oswego firemen help us find families that could use a holiday meal basket,” she said. “We are so very grateful to them for donating.”

Area residents interested in meal baskets sign up a few weeks before Thanksgiving at the Oswego firehouse. They are distributed, with the help of the firefighters on November 20 at the Human Concerns office at 85 E. Fourth St., Oswego.

“Depending on the size of the family, the size of the food basket may vary,” she said. “So our firemen help carry the goods for the families. We are distributing 234 baskets this year.”

That’s about the same number of baskets as last year and the year before, Knopp added.

Community members also contributed canned goods. Knopp said they have everything they need for this year, and is grateful to the community for making the basket distribution possible. For more information on how to acquire a basket for next Thanksgiving, contact Human Concerns at (315) 342-7301.

What they need:
The continued support of their community.
Non-perishable food items for NEXT year. They are all set this year.

What Fulton Community Theatre and Catholic Charities are doing:

The sounds of Christmases past, present, and future will fill the air this season as Fulton Community Theatre proudly presents “Pop’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Carol” to benefit the mission Catholic Charities of Oswego County’s Food Pantry.

The production will play for two performances:
December 1 at 7:30 p.m
December 2 at 2 p.m.
Jubilee Hall in Holy Trinity Church, 309 Buffalo St., Fulton

Tickets are only $5, with all proceeds going to benefit the food pantry.

Along with the ticket proceeds, donations of non-perishable food items will also be collected and welcomed at the performance.

According to Catholic Charities, the pantry is seeing a significantly greater demand for Christmas meals this year and is finding it increasingly difficult to keep the pantry shelves filled.

For more information contact FCT at www.fultoncommunitytheatre.net or via email at fultoncommunitytheatre@gmail.com, or call (315) 598-7840

What they need:
Canned foods and other non-perishable food items.
Patrons to come see the show and donate via admission.