FREEPORT – The Freeport Rotary Club, as usual, and L’Ecole Francaise du Maine are stepping up to the plate with donations to the Freeport Community Services Thanksgiving Food Fund.

Also, as in the past, Azure Cafe? on Main Street is offering a free Thanksgiving Day dinner from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Susan Mack, family services coordinator for Freeport Community Services, said that thanks to a big team effort, 130 Thanksgiving baskets will be available at the facility on Tuesday, Nov. 25, for families who have signed up for them.

Jim Hendricks, a Rotary Club member and Town Council chairman, asked the Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce in an email to reach out to its members for monetary donations.

“I am really hoping that we can all come together for the community on this one,” Hendricks said.

Mack said that the Thanksgiving baskets are made possible almost entirely by donors, except for a $500 grant she received for vegetables. The baskets include turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, gravy, vegetables, butter, rolls and more. On Nov. 24, Freeport Community Services staff and volunteers will put the baskets together.

“Anything that you would like to have for Thanksgiving dinner, 130 families would like that,” she said. “The Rotary Club is awesome. L’Ecole Francaise is providing at least 20 boxes of a complete meal for four,” including turkey.

“We did 24 complete meals last year, and we hope to surpass that this year,” said Willy LeBihan, principal at L’Ecole Francaise. “It’s student-driven, by fifth- and sixth-graders. We have a bin at the school, and they go on the Internet and Facebook, and get gift cards.”

Mack praised Azure Cafe? and its owners for once again offering its community meal.

“Jonas and Kate Werner do an amazing job,” she said.

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A CLOSER LOOK

Anyone who wishes to make a tax-deductible donation to the Freeport Community Services Thanksgiving Food Fund can do so by making a check out for any amount to the Freeport Rotary Club. A club member can drop by businesses to pick up the check, or the donor can email club member Jim Hendricks at [email protected]. Checks also can be dropped off at Hendricks’ office, 174 South Freeport Road.

To donate food or money directly to Freeport Community Services, people can stop by the facility, 53 Depot St., Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., or call Susan Mack, 865-3985, ext. 205.

Families can pick up their Thanksgiving dinner baskets at Freeport Community Services on Tuesday, Nov. 25.