Free dinners offered and everyone is invited

Glenn County residents will have an opportunity to dine with friends and family for free on Thursday.

The Orland Moose Lodge hosts its annual Thanksgiving Day dinner from noon — 6 p.m. at the lodge, located at 605 Fifth St.

Longstanding Jimmie's Thanksgiving dinner will be held from noon — 3 p.m. at the Willows Elks Lodge, located at 150 S. Shasta St.

Both events are free to anyone who would like a traditional meal and share some companionship on the holiday.

"Everybody's welcome," Orland Moose Reggie Olney said. "There is no charge and we don't ask for donations."

Lodge members and other volunteers usually serve about 300 meals at the event, he said.

Orland's dinner started several years ago with Olney and another members buying turkeys for some lodge members "who had no place to go" for the holiday.

Then the organization started thinking about opening the dinner to the community, Olney said, and it blossomed from there.

The menu includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, yams, Jello, a roll, salad and pies prepared by lodge members.

Other volunteers come as well, he said, saying "I want to help. We usually get lots of help."

In Willows, the dinner will also include turkey and trimmings like stuffing, mashed potato, gravy, cranberry sauce and other meal favorites. Pumpkin pie also is on the menu along with other desserts.

The late Jimmie McDaniel of Jimmie's Cab founded the dinner more than 30 years as a gift to Willows.

Volunteers prepare and serve the meals, and donations for the following year are always welcomed, organizers said.