The ninth annual Sharion Bailey Whitlock Soul Food Community Dinner: Good Food for the Body and Soul is set for noon Saturday and organizer Veronica Bailey has issued a familiar call to the community.
"It is free and it's for anybody who wants to come and eat," Bailey said. "There's going to be a lot of food. It's an abundance and we want to share with the community. It's for everybody."
Presented by Meet Me at the Court and The Bailey Family, the dinner will be held in the rear parking lot of the TAC House in the form of a drive-through service.
Free delivery service will also be available for those who cannot make it to the TAC House.
Plates will be prepared by the MMC Kitchen Committee and distributed as vehicles pass through. Guest servers will be the Sugar Town Riders Motorcycle Club and Dr. Steve and Nancy Owens.
"You don't even have to get out of your car. Each plate will be tied and wrapped in a bag and will come with utensils and napkins," said Bailey. "We're just making it as safe and as cautious as we can."
The dinner will offer traditional Thanksgiving fare that will be catered by Lillie Hill, Valerie Cook and C&C Catering.
Bailey said Hill's catering service will prepare "a large portion of the food," adding that Hill has catered the community Thanksgiving dinner -- and other MMC events -- since its inception nine years ago.
Cook and C&C Catering will cover the desserts -- sweet potato pie and pound cake, respectively.
Homemade peach cobbler will also be on the menu to satisfy the sweet tooth.
Bailey said children's plates will come with a cupcake for dessert.
The main menu will include glazed ham; turkey (fried, smoked and baked); chicken (baked, fried and barbecued); BBQ ribs; pot roast with carrots and potatoes; turkey necks; neck bones; dressing; homemade chicken and dumplings; cabbage; collard and turnip greens; candied yams; smothered, whole kernel corn; corn on the cob; macaroni and cheese; purple hull peas; potato salad; green peas; green beans with Irish potatoes and smoked meat; and hot water cornbread
The event will also recognize veterans in honor of Veterans Day, first responders and educators. Essie Tubbs, a 40-year U.S. Army veteran, and Bobby Hardrick, a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, will be honored this year for their military service.
El Dorado Police Chief Kenny Hickman will serve as grand marshal for the community dinner.
In the event of inclement weather, activities will be moved underneath the Col. Frank Hash Tailgate Pavilion behind the TATC House, Bailey said.
For more information or to request a delivery, call Bailey at 870-310-0391. The deadline to submit names and addresses for delivery service is 10 a.m. Friday.