But for the 20 to 30 families the church helps each month, Joy Fellowship is an essential lifeline. That lifeline is wearing thin as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach – and the story at Joy Fellowship is being told around the city.

The church, located at 515 E. Seventh St., is among those looking for the community’s help.

“We’re a small church, and at times It’s a struggle just to keep the lights on, but we have a food pantry, and we help between 20 and 30 families a week,” said Senior Pastor Dodi McIntyre. “We have a cafe where we serve warm, hot, foods and we have our food pantry.”

According to Ruth Baker, a church member who runs the church’s food pantry program, there are specific items the church needs.

Members of Conduit Ministries package hot meals in June, at Brooklyn Square as part of the church’s Food Truck program. This year Conduit Church is set to pass out 1,500 free Thanksgiving meals at 10 different locations in an attempt to alleviate some of the food insecurities people are facing in the Jamestown area during the holidays. Several food pantries, churches and non-for-profits are reporting dwindling food stores as greater demand for food assistance has sacked much of their supplies. P-J photo by Christopher

“Many of our families live on canned protein products. Like tuna fish, jerky and other canned meats,” she said. “Also, shampoo, bars of soap and especially laundry detergent we could use. Laundry detergent we can’t ever have enough of, and we must ration it out as we get it. We also go through a ton of dry cereal. We always have a need for it.”

McIntyre said the church’s café is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. weekly.

For more information visit the Joy Fellowship Jamestown Free Methodist Church’s Facebook page or call 716-484-1542.

The St. Susan Center at 31 Water St., Suite 130. Meals are provided Monday through Friday from 11 to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 2 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. To celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas the center will be open Nov. 28 from noon until 2 p.m. and for Christmas on Dec. 25 for a full, sit-down meal.

“The cost of everything is going up. In cleaning supplies alone we’ve seen a more than 16% increase in cost. We are still accepting donations and are grateful for any help,” said Cherie Rowland, St. Susan Center executive director.

Ruth Baker, a member of Joy Fellowship Free Methodist Church, 515 E. Seventh St., is reporting that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep the stores for the church’s food pantry stocked and the request for assistance is increasingly outpacing the level of donations the church receives. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

For more information visit stsusancenter.org or call 716-664-2253.

The Salvation Army in Jamestown, located at 83 S. Main St., will not be serving a Thanksgiving meal. However, the organization will still conduct its Angel Tree Toy Giveaway program.

Jamestown Salvation Army Maj. Kimberly Merchant said that its food pantry is still open. However, it is becoming extremely difficult to keep it stocked and donations to help the needy are greatly appreciated.

In a July 29 article by The Post-Journal Elizabeth Margarito of the Jamestown Salvation Army, said, “We have a once a month food program where we give out a three to five day supply of groceries, and once a month we have our Food Express Program which provides emergency provisions like canned goods to help people get through rough patches. Our supplies cannot keep up with the demand.”

For more information visit salvationarmyusa.org or call 716-661-3899.

First Covenant Church, located at 520 Spring Street, has a food pantry which is open on the second Friday of each month from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Church officials are reporting that their food pantry is stable, but donations could always be used. Additionally, the church will also be distributing cold weather clothing to include winter jackets, boots, hats and gloves during its food pantry distribution times. Donations for food items which have a pop top can opening are preferred, along with dry milk and winter clothing. Drop off times for donations are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. till 3:30 p.m.

For more information visit firstcov.church or call 716-483-9825.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church rector Luke Fodor said the church will have a Eucharist service on Thanksgiving Day at the church starting at 10 a.m.. The church will also host a New Neighbors Thanksgiving meal for New Neighbors Coalition participants on Thanksgiving Day.

“We have people who’ve immigrated to our nation, and this may be their first American holiday – we want to support and welcome them,” he said.

St. Luke’s will continue to hold its Café’ program which will take place the Monday prior to Thanksgiving Day at 410 N. Main St. For more information visit stlukesjamestown.org or call 716-483-6405

Conduit Ministries Free Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway- for several years now, the church located at 120 Delaware Ave. has given away full, thanksgiving meals at various sites across Chautauqua County. Since the meal giveaways initial inception, in 2016, when the church provided 200 meals, the need to provide more meals has grown.

“This year we will give away 1,500 Thanksgiving meals at 10 locations, Nov. 23, starting at 2 p.m. until supplies are exhausted,” said Jessica McKeever, Conduit Ministries operations director.

Meal distribution will take place at Love Elementary School; Bush Elementary School; Fletcher Elementary School; Persell Middle Schools; Washington Middle School; Jamestown High School; Ellery Town Park; Celoron Park; Gerry Free Methodist Church, and The Relief Zone, Frewsburg..

The meal bags will consist of boxed stuffing, gravy, instant mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, rolls, pie, a turkey and a foil pan and instructions for cooking.

Additionally, the church will also be hosting its second annual Toy Giveaway Program. The event is scheduled to take place Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. here at the church,” said McKeever.

McKeever said the church is accepting donations of toys on Dec. 7, 8 and 13, between 1 to 3 p.m. at the church.

“We cannot accept clothing, broken or excessively dirty toys,” she said. “We are accepting gently used or new toys, books, stuffed animals, complete board games, puzzles, bikes or scooters, baby items, new batteries, tape and wrapping paper.”

For more information call 716-294-3180 or visit conduitministries.com.