By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL / Staff Writer

Clanton First United Methodist Church is hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner event on Nov. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Helen E. Parrish Activity Center, located on the church campus.

Admission is free.

“We want everybody to come together on Thanksgiving Day, and let everybody know in the community that they’re loved and welcome here,” Elisabeth Smith, administrative assistant at Clanton First United Methodist Church, said.

Smith said guests are welcome to bring favorite family dishes to uphold or establish a Thanksgiving tradition, “but it’s certainly not requested or required” of them.

“This tradition has been a long tradition of this church, but it was revived in the last couple of years,” Smith said, “because we saw a need and a want in our community for families that want to be together within our own church family and also single people in the community that do not maybe necessarily have a family to get together with on this holiday.”

First United Methodist Church invites the public to “come be a part of our church family” on Thanksgiving.

“We don’t want anybody to be alone, and we certainly want them to know they’re welcome here,” Smith said.

For more information, call the church office at (205) 755-0490.