NORWICH – Preparations are well underway by the staff at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Norwich's west side for its annual Thanksgiving Harvest Dinner.

Led by Father Charles Taylor—who also administers St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in South New Berlin and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in New Berlin—a lightly staffed kitchen of four prepare in excess of 375–400 meals on Thanksgiving day beginning at noon.

“The meal is open to anyone in the community, and is just a small part of the church's approach to the Thanksgiving season,” said Fr. Taylor

Fr. Taylor indicated that in addition to the open-door non-denominational Thanksgiving meal, Emmanuel also distributes baskets that include the ingredients for families to prepare their own holiday meal and likewise, offers delivery of dinners for “shut-ins” on Thanksgiving.

“Charlie, John and their crew have it down. You want to just stay out of their way and let then do their work. They're like a well-oiled machine,” said Fr. Taylor with regard to Charles McMullen and John Klockowski who manage the Emmanuel kitchen for the much-anticipated Thanksgiving dinner and the church's Soul Kitchen meals held the second Thursday each month. “It's just a wonderful ministry that these men provide because of the need in our community associated with food insecurity.”