By Laura Paskell-Brown

ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE Bay Area are gearing up to provide a free Thanksgiving meal to those in need. Unless otherwise indicated, these dinners take place on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27) and are open to everyone.

Many of the organizations listed below need volunteers, money, and food donations and also offer free Christmas dinners; call them for details. Nonperishable foods can be donated to the San Francisco Food Bank (900 Pennsylvania, S.F. 415-282-1900). The Food Bank can direct you to local supermarkets that are also collecting donations.

To get referrals for free meals based on your zip code, call the Holiday Hotline at 1-800-870-3663 anytime between now and Dec. 24.

San Francisco

City Team Ministries hands out food boxes Nov. 26. To qualify, pick up a ticket from City Team before that day. Pick up boxes Nov. 26, 2-4 p.m., 164 Sixth St., S.F. (415) 861-8688.

Glide Memorial United Methodist Church and the Glide Foundation serve a free Thanksgiving meal. Breakfast 7-8 a.m., dinner 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 330 Ellis, S.F. (415) 674-6081.

Haight Ashbury Food Program dishes up free meals at Hamilton Methodist Church. Noon-3 p.m., 1525 Waller, S.F. (415) 566-0366.

Larkin Street Youth Center serves a free Thanksgiving meal to youths ages 12 to 24. A van picks up kids in the surrounding neighborhood, and walk-ins are welcome. Noon-3 p.m., 1142 Sutter, S.F. (415) 673-0911.

Metropolitan Community Foundation serves a free Thanksgiving meal at the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy. Noon-2 p.m., 4235 19th St., S.F. (415) 863-4434.

Missionaries of Charity provides a free Thanksgiving meal Nov. 30 at the Old Fire House. 3:15-5:30 p.m., 1300 Fourth St., S.F. (415) 586-3449.

Project Open Hand, a nonprofit organization providing meals to senior citizens 60 and older, serves Thanksgiving meals at more than 20 locations throughout San Francisco and Alameda Counties. Most are served Nov. 26, a few Nov. 27. To find the nearest location, call (415) 447-2481.

Salvation Army Harbor Light Center delivers free Thanksgiving meals to senior citizens and disabled people who are unable to shop for themselves. Call anytime from now until Nov. 26 to reserve a meal (two meals a household). Deliveries 9 a.m.-noon. (415) 503-3000.

San Francisco Rescue Mission delivers Thanksgiving meals to homebound people in the Tenderloin Sat/22. Call before Thurs/20 to order one. SFRM also hosts a Thanksgiving meal and service for the homeless Sat/22 in Boeddeker Park. On Nov. 27 the group hosts a Thanksgiving street party and hands out free groceries. Meal and service Sat/22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Boeddeker Park, Jones and Eddy, S.F.; street party Thurs/27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jones between Ellis and Eddy, S.F. (415) 292-1770.

St. Anthony's Dining Room provides a Thanksgiving meal. Seniors, families, and people with disabilities 11 a.m.; everyone else noon, 45 Jones, S.F. (415) 241-2600.

St. John Coltrane African Orthodox Church serves a Thanksgiving feast for meat eaters and vegetarians. It's open to families, seniors, and those in need. Sun/23, 3-4 p.m., 930 Gough, S.F. (415) 673-3572, ext. 6.

St. Vincent de Paul Church prepares a meal in the church and serves it in Washington Square Park to anyone who's alone for the holidays, homeless, or on a fixed income. 1 p.m., Columbus and Filbert, S.F. (415) 421-0809.

Tenderloin Tessie's Holiday Dinners will be dishing up free Thanksgiving grub to families with children, the homeless, and those in need. 1-4 p.m., First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin, S.F. (415) 255-7503 or (415) 922-0422.

East Bay

Bay Area Rescue Mission hosts "Turkey under the Tent" Nov. 26 and Nov. 27. Nov. 26, noon-3 p.m.; Nov. 27, 5:15-9 p.m., 200 MacDonald, Richmond. (510) 215-4555.

First United Methodist Church offers an optional interfaith service and a Thanksgiving dinner. Service 11:30 a.m., dinner noon-2 p.m., 201 Martina, Point Richmond. (510) 236-0527.

McGee Avenue Baptist Church provides a free Thanksgiving dinner. Services 10 a.m., meal noon-2 p.m., 1640 Stuart, Berk. (510) 843-1774.

Oakland City Team Ministries serves a Thanksgiving meal. Call anytime before Nov. 26 to reserve a place. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 722 Washington, Oakl. (510) 452-3758.

Project Open Hand serves meals to seniors at various locations. See San Francisco entry.

St. Vincent de Paul Society offers a free Thanksgiving meal. 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., 675 23rd St., Oakl. (510) 451-7676.