For new Marlinton resident Leslie Shattuck, the holiday season is a time to give back. When she lived in larger cities like Charleston, South Carolina, and Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio, Shattuck and her daughter volunteered their time to serve dinner to the less fortunate.

ﾓ[We] always donated our time,ﾔ she said. ﾓNow, as a business owner here in town, I decided we should do the same here.ﾔ
Shattuck spearheaded a free Thanksgiving Dinner for

Pocahontas County on Thursday, November 24, in the Marlinton Elementary School cafeteria from noon to 4 p.m.

Local residents and businesses are all pitching in to cook a full Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings.

ﾓWe are looking for any volunteers who would like to help with the meal,ﾔ Shattuck said.

In conjunction with the dinner, an account for donations has been set up at First Citizens Bank in Marlinton. Donations are to be made to ﾓFeed PC.ﾔ

ﾓHopefully, we donﾒt have to use any of the donations to purchase food for the dinner,ﾔ Shattuck said. ﾓThe donations will be given to the food pantry.ﾔ

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, Shattuck is organizing the cooks and volunteers to make the day go as smoothly as possible.

ﾓWe are cooking for around 600 to 800 people and will hopefully have enough food for everyone,ﾔ she said. ﾓI think it will be a good time for everyone. A chance to get together with neighbors and have a great meal. Thatﾒs what Thanksgiving is all about.ﾔ

Shattuck said that along with serving residents at the school, she will also have to-go boxes for attendees to take home. Any non-perishables that are left over after the dinner will be taken to the county food bank.