“The joy of being involved in food service comes from serving the people,” Jim McInnes said.
McInnes is preparing for his final year leading the annual Thanksgiving meal prepared and served by Franklin First Presbyterian Church volunteers at the building on Church Street. For 10 to 12 years, ever since he came to Franklin, McInnes has helped with the meal, but he has been involved in food service for more than 60 years total living in Franklin, Miami and Okeechobee.
He said this last year, before he hands the reins over to Jenn Tuft for future meals, the volunteers are working to simplify the meal to reduce the amount of labor needed to serve it. This won’t change the meal much – the church will still be serving the same roasted turkey, dressing, gravy, green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls and cranberry sauce with a pumpkin crunch dessert – but instead of having both a dine-in and curbside pickup meal, this year volunteers will only be passing out meals at the curbside.
The meal started as a small dinner prepared by a family who had nowhere else to go on Thanksgiving before evolving into a catered and, later, a proper feast made and served by church volunteers. The meal has been happening for more than 30 years. Over that time, it has become a community effort. McInnes said the stuffing this year will be donated by Angel Medical Center and several women with the church are working together to prepare the pumpkin dessert.
Volunteers use the ovens at the church, Macon Middle School and the Masonic Lodge to prepare more than a 20 roasted turkeys. In 2025, the church made 30 turkeys. This year, 26 (larger) turkeys will be used to serve the same amount of people. Between 25 and 30 volunteers will show up on the day to prepare, serve and distribute around 600 meals, McInnes said.
“It’s great that we’re able to serve the community like this,” he said.
The administrative work of preparing for the meal began weeks ago, McInnes said, calculating how many ingredients to buy and making the purchases. Some volunteers have been helping with prep going into the meal.
Carl Winter said, “I got started seven years ago. All I do is eat the turkey, I mean cut the turkey.”
Sandy Geary said she works as McInnes sous chef, keeping the kitchen on-task and organized as preparation and service continues. She said this year, she will help serve the meal as well. Her husband Jim Geary serves at the curbside, giving out meals, and helps to get the word out ahead of the event by posting information online.
Rev. Betsy Stow will relieve people who need breaks. She said last year she helped give out carry-out meals, but this year she will be greeting people in line from the roadside.
The meal will be free to those who come, but the church accepts donations to help prepare for the next year’s meal. Those interested can drop by the church from 12 to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day to pick up a meal. Enter Church Street from Iotla Street for the drive-thru meal pickup.