GREENFIELD — Across Franklin County and the North Quabbin region, volunteers are preparing to dish out meals on Thanksgiving to ensure no one goes hungry on the holiday, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Stone Soup Café meal and Day of Mourning

Continuing its tradition, Stone Soup Café in Greenfield will hold space for community, reflection and respect on Thanksgiving Day.

Beginning at noon, guests and Stone Soup Café staff will gather to watch a livestream of the National Day of Mourning, an event hosted in Plymouth since 1970 that recognizes the genocide and suffering of Native people in America and beyond.

After the livestream, people will gather for a free, homemade meal in the All Souls Church sanctuary, with a $25 donation encouraged. Monetary donations from All States Materials Group and local DJ Robert “Bobby C” Campbell’s Thanksgiving fundraiser helped to buy ingredients, coupled with food donations from Mycoterra Farm in South Deerfield, Upinngil Farm in Gill and Clarkdale Fruit Farms in Deerfield. Wendell’s Diemand Farm is providing turkey.

Kirsten Levitt, executive director and chef at Stone Soup Café, said she is expecting to serve 500 meals, prepared by 50 volunteers. The occasion, she added, is also an opportunity to recognize the history of U.S. cruelty toward Indigenous people, followed by a chance to gather together.

“We know from Indigenous elders that at the end of the Day of Mourning in Plymouth, all of the people who are there gather and feast together,” she said. “So we know that it’s culturally appropriate for Indigenous people, and for all people, after taking action together and speaking truth, to sit and break bread with one another.”

Levitt said she will be working to prepare the meals over the next few days, and working with volunteers to deliver meals to those who request one. All are welcome to watch the livestream and enjoy a meal, and those who have the means to donate are encouraged to do so.

Volunteer opportunities are still available. Visit thestonesoupcafe.org/p/13/volunteer for more information.

Montague Elks Lodge free meals

The Montague Elks Lodge is offering free meals for delivery on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon and a free meal pickup on Thanksgiving at the Elks Lodge, 1 Elks Ave. in Turners Falls, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Exalted Ruler Justin Demers said the meals will consist of traditional Thanksgiving fare, with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, rolls and cranberry sauce. The Montague Elks have done meal deliveries in years past for Thanksgiving and the tradition continues this year.

In 2023, Demers said that roughly 30 people took advantage of the free meals, with 160 made. The Elks bring leftover meals to the Greenfield and Montague Police departments as well as the Turners Falls Fire Department as a thank you for the work they do. The Elks also provide meals to the school districts, including giving out Thanksgiving baskets to 24 families of Turners Falls High School and Great Falls Middle School families on Nov. 22.

When asked if he expects there to be an increase in demand this year, he said it is hard to say based on how the turnout fluctuates from year to year.

“This year we don’t have a lot of orders,” Demers said on Saturday. Residents can call 413-863-2521 to place an order.

Although the Elks dedicate time to helping veterans in the area, Demers said this is an opportunity to not only serve veterans, but anyone in the community in need this holiday season.

“We try to do what we can,” Demers said. “We try to give back to anyone in the community who needs it.”

North Quabbin Community Coalition dinner and Athol American Legion

For the North Quabbin towns, the North Quabbin Community Coalition will offer free meal deliveries on Thanksgiving Day. The William J. O’Brien dinner will also return to the Athol American Legion, 325 Pequoig Ave., on Thanksgiving at noon.

Maranda Whittier, office manager at the North Quabbin Community Coalition, said the deliveries will offer hot, traditional Thanksgiving meals to people who are elderly and cannot leave their homes. Deliveries will be done from 10 a.m. to noon on Thanksgiving Day and orders are still being accepted.

Last year, Whittier said 276 people were served. She anticipates that number will be higher this year due to the increased cost of living.

“We are definitely expecting a little bit more heavy volume compared to the years past, just because of the economy right now,” Whittier said, adding that the volunteers “look forward” to delivering meals to those in need.

“It’s a rough time of year. Prices are up on everything, so we just want to help as many as we can,” Whittier added.

Reservations for the William J. O’Brien dinner can be made by calling the Athol Council on Aging at 978-249-8986. For meal delivery, people within the nine North Quabbin towns can call the North Quabbin Community Coalition at 978-249-3703.

Franklin County Community Meals Program

The Franklin County Community Meals Program will offer free meals at the Second Congregational Church, 16 Court Square in Greenfield, from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Wednesday, Nov. 27. On Thursday, there will be a more traditional Thanksgiving meal available at the Orange Food Pantry starting at 4:30 p.m., with the pantry opening at 1 p.m. that day for food pickup. Northfield will also have its community meal at the Trinitarian Congregational Church at 4:30 p.m.

Living Waters Assembly of God

Located at 450 Davis St. in Greenfield, Living Waters Assembly of God will offer a free Thanksgiving meal between 1 and 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.