BY AMY CALDER

Staff Writer

Bud King, 86, believes no one should be without a hot meal and warm companionship on Thanksgiving.

When he owned and operated Bud's Groceries in downtown Oakland for many years, he often heard patrons talk about how lonely they were on the holiday and he vowed he would not let that happen again.

He and close friend Mike Marston got together and organized free public Thanksgiving dinners. King's wife, Josephine, their daughter, Dru and her husband, Sonny Aslam, also got into the act.

For 30 years, they have hosted a free public Thanksgiving dinner which for the last 20 years has been held at Messalonskee High School in Oakland. They will be at it again on Thursday.

"When I was at the store I saw too many people making remarks that you knew that they were lonesome," King said. "This dinner gives people a chance to associate with somebody else."

About 200 volunteers help with the effort, according to King: "We appreciate the volunteers. If it wasn't for the volunteers, we wouldn't be having the dinner."

And some people donate to the event.

"Yesterday, we had a $1,000 donation," King said Friday, adding that the donor did not want to be identified.

The dinner with turkey and all the trimmings -- plus pies galore -- will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the school's cafeteria. Those needing rides to and from the meal should call 465-4835 ahead of time.

"Everyone is welcome," King said. "We will pick people up and take them to the dinner if they'd like, and take them home. And we'll deliver meals. If they eat at the cafeteria and they would like something to take home, they can have a Thanksgiving dinner to take home."

Thirty-three 30-pound turkeys and nearly 400 pounds of potatoes will be cooked up for the meal, he said.

"The Girl Scouts are making 150 pies," he said, adding that elementary schoolchildren will make decorations for the tables.

The Lions Club and high school students will drive people to and from the dinner and if there is any food left over, it will be taken to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter in Waterville, where Marston is executive director. King said he expects 1,000 people to have dinner Thursday.

"In all, we have served in the 20,000s, in the years we have done it at the school," he said.

Elsewhere on Thanksgiving, the Midnight Blues Club on Silver Street in Waterville will have three seatings for dinner: at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

"They need reservations," said club manager Mary Gagne. If they call (877-8300) between now and Tuesday, that would be perfect. But Wednesday we'll still accept them, if need be."

This will be the fourth year Blues Club owner Paul Morency has offered free holiday meals.

"Anyone and everyone is welcome," Gagne said. "It was a great time working it last year. I enjoyed it very much. The gratitude you get from people is just amazing."

Besides the Messalonskee and Blues Club dinners, other free meals will be offered at the following locations:

IN MADISON, Madison Area Memorial High School on Ellis Flats will host a dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday for senior citizens who are residents of Madison.

IN FARMINGTON, the Scottish Rite Masons of Augusta Valley will deliver meals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday and a sit-down meal will be offered at about 11:30 a.m. at Mt. Blue High School. Those wanting meals delivered are asked to call Charlene and Rufus Cox at 779-0641. Reservations will be taken through Wednesday but people may call the school Thursday morning if necessary and the janitor will take the call, according to Charlene Cox.

IN SKOWHEGAN, the Empire Grill on Water Street will offer a free dinner, with seatings at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The restaurant will open at 11 a.m.

IN WATERVILLE, the Sacred Heart Soup Kitchen on Pleasant Street will host a dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com