Giving back to the community is one way a local cook plans to celebrate the Holy season this year.

Lisa Thomas prepares lunch at Jefferson Davis Community College’s Student Center every day. She said preparing meals through the Holy Week is her chance to give back to the community in the best way she knows how.

“In the spirit of Easter, I am going to cook lunch and serve to everybody who wants to come out and eat,” Thomas said. “Times are hard for most of us these days and I thought that this is one thing that I could do to help the community. The public is invited to come out and there will be no charge for the meal.”

Thomas will serve lunch Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

As the week closes for the free lunch plan, Thursday’s meal will be traditional holiday fare, Thomas said.

“Everybody is welcome, not just one day, but every day next week,” Thomas said.

Normally Thomas’s diners include mostly students, teachers and staff members at Jefferson Davis Community College.

During certain seasons of the year, however, she expands her lunches to include anyone who wants to come by and get a meal free of charge as her gift to the community.