Photos courtesy of Randolph County Schools Kindergarten and first-grade students at Harman School enjoyed a Thanksgiving celebration last week dressed as pilgrims and Native Americans.

ELKINS — The Randolph County Coalition of Churches and several other organizations in neighboring counties will be providing free meals to those in need on Thanksgiving Day.

The First Church of Christ, First United Methodist, Woodford United Methodist, First Baptist Church, The Refinery Church, Elkins First Church of the Nazarene, Elkins Family Worship Center, and Davis Memorial Presbyterian make up the Randolph County Coalition of Churches.

The group’s free Thanksgiving meal will be available at the First United Methodist Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, and will be prepared by the Steer Steakhouse. Everyone is welcome to attend, and more information can be obtained by calling 304-704-9433 or 304-636-0660.

“Having something like this is extremely important this time of year,” Refinery Church Pastor Roy Schneider told The Inter-Mountain this week.

“There are many people who can’t afford to have a nice lunch or dinner because of food cost and there are homeless folks who simply have no place to go. Then there are folks who can afford food and have a home, but don’t have anyone to share it with. The church is designed to be the hands and feet of Christ and work together. This meal is a reflection of what Christian Community and living for Christ is supposed to look like.”

The Randolph County Coalition of Churches has been working together for many years to make sure everyone has a place to go and enjoy a hot Thanksgiving meal.

“We have a really great group of ministers right now in the coalition that are invested in our community,” Schneider said. “They see the big picture and desire to continue to work together on things like this.”

In Barbour County, the Belington Presbyterian Church will host its annual Thanksgiving Day meal program, which feeds more than 400 people each year. The Barbour County Health Association raises money for the dinner each year with its annual Turkey Trot. For more information, call 304-832-1054.

In Upshur County, the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church will be serving up free take-out Thanksgiving dinners beginning at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving. For more information, call 304-472-6904.

In Tucker County, the Parsons Senior Center is offering a free Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday. Eat-in and carry-out dinners are available and everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, call 304-478-4018.

The Harman students appeared to have a wonderful time learning, sharing and celebrating the holiday together.