Various organizations and nonprofits around Franklin County and the North Quabbin region are opening their doors to the community on Thanksgiving, offering free meals and companionship.

In Greenfield, Stone Soup Cafe will host A Day of Mourning and Thanks Giving, as the cafe recognizes and honors Indigenous people in the All Souls Church sanctuary. Executive Director and Chef Kirsten Levitt said the cafe will pause meal preparations at noon to stream the National Day of Mourning, an annual demonstration held to educate people about Native Americans, as a way to “stand in solidarity” with the millions of Indigenous people who have been “marginalized” throughout the country’s history.

“We as an organization are going to pause,” Levitt said. “We know that this holiday, its founding story is a lie, and yet the entire nation stops on a day where there’s a secular celebration and gathers on Thanksgiving, and families spend time together and celebrate the bounty and gratitude they feel. But we know that in reality, for Indigenous people across the United States, they have been marginalized.”

In pausing in solidarity, Levitt said the cafe is making a “very small reparation to the situation” that Indigenous people have been put in.

“Indigenous people fast until the end of the Day of Mourning, then feast together. We’re delaying our gratification of this big, delicious meal we’re making because we want to live in solidarity,” she said. “I emphasize it’s a small way to understand how we can fully embrace all of our community and to create bridges that help our community understand that your individual experience does not encompass the experience of all.”

Following the Day of Mourning, Thanksgiving meals will be available for everyone on a pay-what-you-can basis at All Souls Church beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 2:30. Meal delivery is available from 1 to 3 p.m., but reservations are required, which can be made at thestonesoupcafe.org or by calling 413-422-0020. No reservations are needed for curbside pickup.

The menu includes roasted turkey in gravy — with turkeys donated by Diemand Farm in Wendell — turnip and potato mash, butternut squash bisque, roasted Brussels sprouts, mushroom lentil loaf, cranberry chutney, pumpkin cheesecake and apple crisp.

Levitt said she and her staff “believe that every day is a day for giving thanks” and the holiday is just another opportunity to do so.

“We see Thanksgiving as just another opportunity to give thanks for the abundance that each of us has to share with one another,” Levitt said. “We invite any member of our community who needs a meal; we want them to come or want them to order so they have a delicious meal to savor on Thursday.”

Stone Soup Cafe is still looking for volunteers to set up, cook, pack meals and clean up, or to deliver meals on Thanksgiving. Those interested in volunteering can visit bit.ly/3V16Zcq.

In addition to Stone Soup Cafe’s community meal, the Living Waters Assembly of God church is also hosting a Thanksgiving meal for everyone in the community.

The church is located at 450 Davis St. and the meal will be served from 1 to 4 p.m.

Franklin County Community Meals Program

The Franklin County Community Meals Program is offering a Thanksgiving meal Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Northfield Trinitarian Congregational Church, located at 147 Main St, in partnership with the First Parish Unitarian Church.

The community can stop by and treat themselves to a Thanksgiving meal of soup, turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce and dessert. People are welcome to sit down and eat together or pick up a takeout meal.

In addition, the Franklin County Community Meals Program’s distribution on Wednesdays from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. at Greenfield’s Second Congregational Church will be held as usual this week.

North Quabbin

While the Orange Food Pantry, 118 East Main St., will close on Thursday and open instead on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a separate community Thanksgiving meal in Athol.

Starting at noon at the Athol American Legion, 325 Pequoig Ave., folks are invited to come together for the longstanding William J. O’Brien Memorial Thanksgiving Dinner, in what will be the first in-person, family-style meal since the pandemic began.

“It’s definitely a very community-oriented meal. People will bring stuff to share,” said Celeste Wehmeyer, who serves on Athol’s Council on Aging. “The original William J. O’Brien has passed away and the family wants to continue the tradition.”

Reservations are preferred and can be made by calling the Athol Council on Aging at 978-249-8986, but Wehmeyer emphasized that walk-ins are welcome, too.

“If someone wants to walk in, that’s certainly an option,” she said. “No one will be turned away.”

The meal is free, but donations are welcomed.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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