This year, Moore County volunteers have a unique opportunity to celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving Day by putting their gratitude in action.

MANNA!, the Moore Alliance Nourishing Neighbors, Amen!, is partnering with Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Southern Pines to serve a free Thanksgiving feast for anyone in need.

The free meal, traditional turkey with all the trimmings, begins at 11 a.m., and will be served at the parish hall, located at 340 S. Ridge Street in Southern Pines.

Volunteers are needed on Thursday, Nov. 23, during the hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MANNA! is organizing transportation for those wishing to come to the church for a meal, but lack the means.

"This is truly a fantastic opportunity for individuals or groups wishing to participate in an outreach project." says Ruth Anne Murphy, RSVP Director. "I often speak with church and civic groups, and with individuals who are looking for new ways to affect our community in a positive way. This is it! It's short-term, high-impact, and it will be fun. Sunday school classes, church circle groups, civic clubs, service organizations, Scout troops -- any organizations or individuals dedicated to civic responsibility and community service are encouraged to consider participating by volunteering just a few hours on Thanksgiving Day."

MANNA! is a small, non-profit group of enthusiastic volunteers with big ideas. Their mission is "feeding the hungry in Moore County." They've been doing that since September 2005, when they began serving weekly free lunches in Southern Pines at Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church.

Today, they have expanded their service area to include Taylortown, where free lunches are provided on Tuesdays at Taylor Memorial AME Zion Church.

In 2007, the group plans to expand further with the goal of serving five days per week.

"It's a lofty goal, but achievable with the help of some dedicated volunteers," says Murphy. "Volunteers will be mobilized in teams of four adults to plan a menu and prepare the meals each quarter. Meals will be prepared at Emmanuel Episcopal Church and distributed to various sites to be served. It's an opportunity for a small group to work together to make a meaningful contribution to this community."

To learn more about how to volunteer during the Thanksgiving feast or for one of the MANNA! lunch teams, contact Ruth Anne Murphy at 910-947-6395.

Financial contributions may be sent to MANNA!, PO Box 1081, Southern Pines, NC 28388-1081.

Moore County RSVP is committed to supporting volunteerism in Moore County. It assists more than 35 non-profit agencies with recruiting, training, and recognizing their valuable volunteers. It also help adults, age 55 or better, find ways to invest their time and energy in enjoyable, meaningful activities that not only benefit the community, but keep them active and productive.

For more information, call 910-947-6395 or e-mail rmurphy@ moorecountync.gov.