Runners and walkers in a 5K/10K race help to raise money for the annual Kinsmen Lutheran Church free Thanksgiving feast.Kinsmen Lutheran Church will host its seventh free Community Thanksgiving Feast on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24.[/caption]

Kinsmen Lutheran Church will host its seventh free Community Thanksgiving Feast on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24.

The meal includes turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, corn, cranberries, rolls and pie.

“This meal is for everyone—young, old, singles, families, neighbors and friends,” said the Rev. Beth Warpmaeker, senior pastor of Kinsmen Lutheran Church. “As a church, we consider this community to be part of our extended family. So we want to warmly welcome everyone in, celebrate together, and be reminded of all that we have to be thankful for, whether this has been a good year or a tough one.”

The Thanksgiving feast will be served from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at 12100 Champion Forest Drive, Houston. Reservations are not needed. The event also includes crafts and a bounce house for the kids, as well as football on TV.

"It was a vision basically to create an opportunity for those who are less fortunate but also for those who did not have families available to celebrate," Director of Congregational Life Lynnae Schatz said.

Event attendance has grown from 225 the first year, to over 650 last year, Schatz said. The church plans to serve 40 turkeys this year, she said. Volunteers who assist with the event come from throughout the community in addition to the church congregation.

Five years ago, the church added a fun run to the day's events to help raise money for the feast. The event drew 145 participants and raised $500 last year.

The 5th Annual Run for Your Turkey 5K/10K walk and run will begin at 8 a.m. at the church. The race course runs through the neighborhood of Greenwood Forest and ends at Kinsmen Lutheran Church.

Early registration for the 5K/10K walk or run is $20 until Nov. 8 ($25 after that date), and participants receive a T-shirt. To register or for more information about volunteering, visit www.kinsmenlutheran.org or call 281-444-3126.