Thanksgiving to many people means thanking oneself for your blessings and being able to help those in need. That's the premise behind several free area Thanksgiving meals that will take place Thursday.

St. Peter's Catholic Church at 104 W. Fourth St. in Mansfield will hold their 17th Annual Thanksgiving Day Meal from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Over in Ashland, Elks Lodge 1360 at 402 Center St., opens it doors for a free Thanksgiving Day luncheon from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The Prayer and Praise Christian Network will hold its traditional holiday meal from 1 to 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 12 N. Diamond St. in Mansfield.