Members of the Living Hope Lighthouse Church, 705 Third St., Palmerton, came together to prepare and serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to the public. They expected to serve 150 to 200 people at the church, and another 150 curbside dinners.

Church member Michael Balch started the program seven years ago.

“I had this idea back then, and a bunch of businesses donated money for us to buy the food,” Balch explained. “Volunteers from the church cook much of the food at their homes; our kitchen is rather small.”

The menu included turkey, filling, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, green beans, and pumpkin pie.

In addition to church volunteers, members of the Palmerton Area High School Blue Bombers Cheerleading Team were on hand to serve the dinners.

“We just want to thank everyone for coming to help and embracing it, and supporting it,” Balch added. “You can’t make the world a better place unless you start with your own hometown. The Living Hope Lighthouse Church is here to do our part for the community.”

“We are expecting 150 to 200 people who will be here,” Balch said, “and about 150 curbside dinners. We also will deliver about 40 dinners to a senior home, the police station, and some dinners for some who could not make it in person.”