Thanksgiving is the start of the season of giving, and Grace Pointe Church celebrated the season with a special feast Sunday, Nov. 17.
Every third Sunday, members of the church at 3727 Oxford Millville Rd host a dinner; this month it was their Thanksgiving dinner.
What originally started off nearly 10 years ago as a Thanksgiving dinner for international students from nearby Miami University has turned into an opportunity to engage with the wider community.
After the Sunday service, the church opened their doors to the rest of the community to come and join their fellowship with a special dinner.
“From a church perspective it’s a way for us to serve,” said Pastor Tim Tice.
Usually church volunteers spend their time at the Oxford Community Choice Pantry on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. At this time, they serve free food to families and community members with no identification required. But for the dinner this past Sunday, they invited those usual people to come to the church for the special meal.
“It’s exciting, it’s community, it’s connection,” Tice said.
About 25 people usually served by the food pantry came in for the meal.
In addition to their dinner, the church is also heavily involved in service in general. For the free meals they serve, they work with Kroger and partake in the retail rescue program which gives participants fresh food that has not yet reached its expiration date.
Grace Pointe is not the only local church or charitable group helping feed people in Oxford. On the first Wednesday of each month, Oxford United Methodist Church, 14 N Poplar St., hosts a meal. Faith Lutheran Church, 420 S Campus Ave., takes over for the second Wednesday. St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 111 E. High St., follows on the third Wednesday. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 25 E. Walnut, handles the fourth Wednesday. On months with a fifth Wednesday, Oxford Presbyterian Church, 101 N. Main, steps in.
Oxford Community Choice Pantry at Locust and Ohio 27, is open for dinner to any with ID and proof of residency on Mondays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday’s from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Oxford Hands Food Pantry, 2143 Oxford Millville Road, hosts dinner on Mondays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Crossroads Oxford Pantry located at 406 E. Withrow St. hosts Sundays 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and Monday’s 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. with no documentation needed.
