The traditional story of the first Thanksgiving tells us that early English settlers and American Indians shared a great meal together. Now, almost 400 years later, Thanksgiving still has the common theme of sharing over the dinner table.

On Wednesday morning, Trinity Episcopal Church welcomed those who get food through the Food Pantry to share a Thanksgiving meal prepared by church members.

“Whenever they serve the food from the Food Pantry to the people, they just come over here and get a plate,” said Martha Kidd, who worked at the Trinity Episcopal dinner, on Tuesday. “(The Food Pantry) will give them a ticket when they get their food, and they come over here and get their dinner.

“We have ham, sweet potato casserole, green beans, a roll and dessert. We plan on feeding between 250 and 300 people. That’s the number of people who have been going to the Food Pantry.”

On Thursday, members of the community giving organization A Time to Share also served a meal to those in need through the generosity of donations and help from the food services department of Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital, which catered the event at the Hope Hill District office on Pettus Street.

For the third straight year, several people turned out to provide a holiday meal to those unable to get their own for themselves or their families.

A Time to Share solicited donations to help pay for the catering provided by the hospital and to help provide drinks and other amenities for the meal.

“Everybody has done a great job this year,” said A Time to Share member and minister Grace Clayton, “especially businesses that aren’t making a whole lot of money.

“We are thankful for everybody who did give because it is bad that the economy is bad, but it is good that the businesses that are struggling to stay open are willing to help somebody who is completely out of work.”

Although many people see Thanksgiving as a time to fill up on food, the true spirit of Thanksgiving is in sharing what we have with others.