Community can treat military to home cooking

Anyone with a special Thanksgiving recipe is asked to cook it for military service members who aren't able to go home for the holidays.

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Harlem is holding its seventh annual Military Thanksgiving Dinner for 75 people stationed at Fort Gordon at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the new Harlem Senior Center.

Organizers ask for donations of homemade dishes to serve to the soldiers, who can't go home because of their duty assignments.

Homemade foods help make the soldiers feel more at home away from home, said Julie Miller, the executive director of Columbia County Community Connection.

"We really want to give them that down-home experience that they would get if they were able to go home," Miller said.

The feast is in special need of side dishes such as vegetables, casseroles and salads, along with desserts, Miller said.

The Thanksgiving feast is organized to thank and honor the soldiers for their military service.

Contributions from businesses and people make up the meal. Volunteers, including many government officials, serve the meal and often stay to talk with soldiers to ensure they go back to the base feeling full and appreciated.

Anyone wanting to make a contribution should call Pat Grice at (706) 556-0609.