Vineyard Church volunteers serve up Thanksgiving dinner in Rockville Centre

As they have for the last seven years, volunteers from the Vineyard Church on Merrick Road cooked and served free homemade Thanksgiving dinners — with all the trimmings — to more than 200 village residents and people from surrounding communities. Several meals were delivered to those who are homebound. A number of village residents joined the 128 Vineyard volunteers to contribute food and offer their time on Nov. 24. Sixty gift baskets filled with toiletries, or with fruit and goodies, were also raffled off to guests.

Among the many on hand to serve dinner from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. this past Thursday were Mitch Kraeling, Evelyn Sorensen, Mike Lindsley, Michele Weinteb, Brian Pettit, Annie O’Donohoe, Bill Adams and Ellie De Guzman.

The church operates a food pantry that provides free groceries, including meat and fresh produce, to approximately 135 needy local families each week, and church members deliver food to nearly 40 homebound people each week as well. Donations are gladly accepted. Those interested in learning more can contact the Vineyard Church office at (516) 678-7888.