NATCHEZ — Miss-Lou residents will gather Tuesday to gives thanks for another year.

Both the Natchez and the Vidalia ministerial alliances have organized community thanksgiving services for Tuesday.

The Concordia Parish service will start at 7 p.m. at Bethel Church at 204 Airport Road in Vidalia.

The Rev. Troy Thomas, pastor of Bethel Church, said the service is one he looks forward to every year.

“We, as a community, have so much to be thankful for,” Thomas said. “I believe we have a great community, and it’s always good to give God thanks.”

An offering plate will be passed to collect money for Feed the Hungry, which helps feed 200 families a month in the area. The organization distributes 50-pound boxes of dried goods and a bag of frozen food to those who fall below federal poverty guidelines.

“They’ve touched a lot of families in our area, so we want to help them any way we can,” Thomas said.

Thomas said four pastors from the surrounding area will speak at the service.

In Natchez, the community will gather at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Crosspoint Church on Highland Boulevard in Natchez.

The Rev. John Kramer, who is pastor at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church, said the service is a great opportunity for local church members to gather for the holidays.

“It’s an effort to show unity between the Christian churches in town and in the area,” Kramer said. “We try to encourage everyone to come together for this Thanksgiving service.”

The Rev. Bo Swilley, who is pastor of Community Chapel in Natchez, will lead the service.

Kramer said residents can also bring non-perishable items to the worship service. The items will be donated to Natchez Stewpot, which serves between 250 to 300 meals every day.

Monetary donations will also be accepted, Kramer said.

Crosspoint Church is located at 285 Highland Blvd. in Natchez.

A community-wide Thanksgiving service has been around in Natchez since at least 1986.