Thanksgiving dinner to be delivered

By the Catholic Free Press

The sit-down Bishop’s Thanksgiving dinner at St. Paul Cathedral is cancelled this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, Catholic Charities Worcester County announced Tuesday. However, those who would have gone to the sit-down dinner can request that meals be delivered to their homes instead.
Volunteers are being sought to deliver meals to these homes and the homes where they normally deliver meals.
In addition, limited seating or to-go meals are to be offered to homeless individuals at St. John’s Food for the Poor Program at 20 Temple St. in Worcester.
“For more than 55 years, the Bishop of Worcester has hosted a dinner provided by Catholic Charities Worcester County in order to assure a warm meal and fellowship to homebound elders, people with disabilities, and those who would otherwise be alone on Thanksgiving and Christmas,” a Catholic Charities press release said this week.
In recent years, Bishop McManus has met with guests on those holidays at sit-down dinners at the cathedral. Volunteers have delivered meals to others.
This year, volunteers willing to deliver meals are asked to sign up on Catholic Charities’ website https://www.ccworc.org/volunteer-registration-bhd/ where they can choose a time slot.
“We are encouraging all of our volunteers to register online,” the website says. “With the impact of COVID-19 we are expecting fewer volunteers, so your help is greatly appreciated. In order to protect our volunteers, staff, and meal recipients, we will be following all COVID-19 safety guidelines. Volunteers will pick up their delivery route and packaged meals drive-through style … so they will not need to exit their vehicle.”
Volunteers are being asked to line up in their cars near the gym of St. Peter Central Catholic Elementary School, 10 Hammond St., Worcester, and will be directed where to go.
“Last year, the Bishop’s holiday dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas provided over 4,200 dinners (both home delivered and sit-down meals) to people,” Catholic Charities’ press release said.
The agency receives names of people needing dinners from local elder service – organizations and other agencies which have a long-standing relationship with Catholic Charities. 
“Staff and volunteers have seen this need steadily grow as elders continue to age in place, rather than move to assisted living or nursing home facilities,” the press release said.
For more information call Catholic Charities at 508-798-0191.