When Emmarie Flaggs-Anderson was growing up, she had Thanksgiving dinner at her grandmother’s house.

So did many other people.

Her grandmother, the late Mozella Flaggs, who lived on Main Street in Vicksburg, took it as her personal mission to provide a Thanksgiving meal to all who needed one in her area of the city.

“She fed the needy in her area, and that could have meant needy because of lack of finances, or no family in the area, or someone just in need of some love,” Flaggs-Anderson said. “Her ultimate goal was to provide a family oriented Thanksgiving feast.”

Flaggs-Anderson said last year she decided to continue her grandmother’s tradition.

“This is the time of year when people are usually exposed to love. I thought, why not get together and provide that love to those in need in this community. I got on Facebook and told people what my grandmother did and proposed having a sit-down dinner for all in need in this community,” she said.

Flaggs-Anderson asked, and the community answered.

“We called it Granny’s Kitchen, in honor of my grandmother,” she said.

The Vicksburg community responded in droves with people bringing potluck dishes and volunteers to come serve and help in any way they could. Even the Warren County Sheriff’s Office pitched in.

“(Sheriff) Martin Pace allowed his deputies to deliver meals to those who could not come to the dinner. Sheriff Pace even participated, brought a dish and delivered meals,” Flaggs-Anderson said. “We are still getting food lined up this year. We served well over 100 meals last year, and are expecting to serve more this year.

“We sit down and eat with these people and fellowship. We want them to know that their community loves them and cares about them. It’s about us being family oriented with all,” she said.

This year’s meal is Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Gym, in Vicksburg.

Flaggs-Anderson and those helping with the event are still in need of volunteers to prepare potluck-style dishes and to help serve the meals.

“We’re still getting food lined up. If anyone can help, we would surely appreciate it. They just need to let me know what dish they want to bring and if they want to help service,” she said.

Last year, Granny’s Kitchen was able to feel all of the sheriff’s deputies and police officers who were on duty. This year, they hope to add all of the firefighters on duty to that number.

If you can help, please contact her at emmarie.f.anderson@gmail.com.