Thanksgiving will come about a week earlier for families in need because of the efforts of the congregation of First Baptist Church of Ironton.

“We are offering a free Thanksgiving dinner to anyone who needs it,” Eric Barnes, church pastor, said. “We will serve until we run out.”

The dinner will run from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the church’s fellowship hall.

“We know that the City Mission does a meal on Thanksgiving,” Barnes said. “We wanted to provide other opportunities for any families.”

The goal is to serve 300 families, according to Barnes’ wife, Amy.

Volunteers from the church plan to start cooking the week before.

“We have to do all the bread, cut all the celery and all the vegetables,” Amy Barnes said. “It is a weeklong process.”

Most of the cooking will be done in the fellowship hall.

“We have a lady who has volunteered to do the dressing at home,” she said.

A number of businesses are donating turkeys or gift cards so the church can get supplies.

This is the second year for the church to provide the dinner. Last year volunteers were also able to serve the turkey dinners to inmates at the county jail and those at the juvenile home.

“If we have enough left over, we would love to do that,” Barnes said.

The dinner is free and no reservations are required.