MENDOCINO CO., 11/16/25 – There is no shortage of generosity during the holidays in Mendocino County, and this Thanksgiving is no exception.
As with every year, volunteers will gather at organizations across the county to serve free meals to their neighbors. Three free Thanksgiving meals are offered this year, and volunteers are also needed.
Are we missing an event? Email details to info@mendovoice.com. Find a list of restaurants open for Thanksgiving here.
Fort Bragg
The First Presbyterian Church of Fort Bragg hosts its annual Thanksgiving dinner for all coastal residents from Westport to Albion. This year’s dinner will include turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, honey-glazed carrots, cranberry sauce, a dinner roll and pumpkin pie. Delivery, curbside and in-person dining are available. Reservations are required. Visit https://fbpchurch.org/community-thanksgiving-dinner/ to learn more.
Laytonville
101 Grill & BBQ (44911 U.S. 101, Laytonville) will serve free Thanksgiving supper to EBT/CalFresh card-holding families from 1 to 3 p.m. Non-cardholding families can pay $10 per person, with proceeds benefiting Pam & Susan’s North Pole Toy Express, Laytonville’s annual toy drive. Dine-in only. RSVP is required. Call (707) 984-6888 to reserve.
Ukiah
Plowshares will host its annual Thanksgiving meal with turkey, potatoes, stuffing, green beans, fried onions, rolls, cranberry sauce and pie. Meals will be served at the Plowshares Community Dining Room (1346 S. State St., Ukiah) from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meals on Wheels recipients will receive meals delivered to their homes on their regular schedules. Call (707) 462-8582 for more information or visit https://www.plowsharesfeeds.org/.
Willits
Willits Community Services and Food Bank will host its 36th annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Willits Harrah Senior Center (1501 Baechtel Road). Each guest receives a full Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings and dessert. Everyone is welcome, no questions asked. The meal is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., or until food runs out. Call (707) 459-3333 for more information.
These people are amazing. I also want to point out that some of these organizations are feeding people all year around. Like Plowshares, in Ukiah.
I remember when…I ate there.just about every day for 6 months while I was rebuilding my own life. I was so hungry during that time. Nutritious food was so scarce for me then. I knew I could go there and get a free hot meal no questions asked! Thank you Plowshares!
I also just decided, (after seeing that their donations were looking kinda pitiful), that I would stop handing people money on the street and give that money to Plowshares instead.
The meals are always free. They have bathrooms! (this is huge when your homeless). Sometimes in the past they had someone volunteering to cut hair FREE. They even hand out baggies of dog food for those that have pets. It’s all free to the recipient. Plus they gave us essentials, and the volunteers were never judgemental.
I guess I’m urging people to stop handing money to the homeless for dope, booze and cigarettes, and buy them a nutritious hot meal instead by donating to the soup kitchen in your city.
Let’s keep these places open. Let’s support them by giving donations and volunteering.
May God bless you and your families this holiday season. Thank you for caring and thank you for giving!
I also want to add that our soup kitchens and rescue missions are utilized by seniors and families struggling to put food on the table and probably sometimes even feed lonely souls needing company.
There are numerous other options for those in need this Holiday season. Including MCAVHN (whom make up hundred of plates every year and hand them out from their office as well as going out into the community and handing out plates), Ukiah Senior Center (serves the elderly and disabled) and various churches that provide both the ingredients to make your own meal or serve a meal themselves (ask your church of preference their plans for Thanksgiving).
If you do not need the food yourself please consider donating food, money or time to any of the wonderful organizations helping folks out during the stressful and unsure holiday season.