SALISBURY —  The Salvation Army of Rowan County and the Kiwanis Club of Salisbury are hosting a free community Thanksgiving dinner, and they are asking the community to help provide the turkey for the annual gathering.

The Salvation Army asks anyone who can donate a frozen or thawed turkey to do so by Monday so that volunteers can prepare them. Members of the Kiwanis Club will cook the turkeys.

The turkeys or side dishes can be delivered to the Salvation Army at 620 Bringle Ferry Road from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday.

The dinner will be on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bringle Ferry Road location.

The dinner is open to anyone. Guests can eat at the Bringle Ferry Road headquarters or take their meal with them.

Salvation Army Capt. Bobby Carr said if turkey donations are frozen, they should be delivered by Friday and thawed by Monday or Tuesday.

Todd Hildebrand, a member of the Kiwanis Club, is also a member of the Salvation Army advisory board and was instrumental in the partnership with the two organizations for the meal, Carr said.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.