The Thanksgiving holiday begins today in Brookings with a community dinner provided by Brookings Christian Fellowship.

The free meal will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at VFW Post 966, 507 Pacific Ave.

Pastor Mike Whitman of the Fellowship said everyone is invited. The Wednesday date reflects the church’s belief that thanks should be given every day, he said.

Meanwhile, the Thursday schedule includes free community dinners at:

 Curry County Fairgrounds in Gold Beach, Chetco Activity Center at 550 Chetco Lane, and at Outreach Gospel Mission south of Harbor on Highway 101.

Meals will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the fairgrounds and everyone is invited, said Terry Boatman, vice president of Curry Fair Friends which is sponsoring the dinner for the second consecutive year.

The menu includes turkey, ham, vegetables, a variety of salads, stuffing, rolls, gravy and desserts. There will be a donation jar for those wishing to contribute to the maintenance and repair of the fairgrounds.

“This is for families, singles, seniors – anyone who has no place to go,” Boatman said.

Although the tables will feature cloth napkins to give the meal an air of class, she said, people should feel free to dress in casual clothing.

“We just want to have a nice dinner for people to sit down and talk,” Boatman said. “We want to be sure people enjoy themselves. It’s also good to get people out to talk to others because many are lonely.”

The mission’s feast begins at 2 p.m. and augments efforts to provide Thanksgiving food boxes to people throughout the Brookings-Harbor area. Mission Executive Director Michael Olsen said at least 500 people will be fed through the food box program.

The meal at Chetco Activity Center will be from noon until 3 p.m.

Prices are $8 in advance or $10 at the door for adults, and $4 in advance or $5 at the door for children ages 5 to 10. Children younger than 5 eat free.