ZELIENOPLE — People who don’t have anywhere to eat on Thanksgiving Day have an option other than staying at home alone.

St. Peter’s Reformed Church, 320 E. Grandview Ave., will have a free Thanksgiving Day dinner this year for the fifth year.

The meal is organized by church volunteers Tammy Stauffer and Karen Cunningham, who collect donations and organize people to prepare the meal.

In the past they have had about 50 people and expect that number again this year, Stauffer said.

The dinner is open to anyone, though many of the attendees are senior citizens or people who live in the area but don’t have any relatives nearby, Stauffer said.

“We open our doors for Thanksgiving to spread love to the community and to be there for fellowship,” she said.

After the positive reaction from the first dinner, Stauffer and Cunningham helped to institute a monthly free dinner at the church. It is from 5 to 7 p.m. on the second Friday of the month and people who attend are encouraged to donate money to a goodwill cause that changes from month to month.

Often it is to provide financial assistance to a family in need.

That dinner typically draws 60 to 80 people, but as many as 120 have come if word spreads that the event is raising money for a particular cause.

To get the food and supplies for the dinners, they request donations of money or food items at church services.

The Thanksgiving meal is a traditional turkey dinner made from scratch in the church’s kitchen. About 20 volunteers pitch in to prepare the meal starting Wednesday afternoon and continuing throughout the day on Thursday, Stauffer said.

The church wants attendees to make a reservation by Nov. 21. To do so, call 724-452-8120.