Local church gives free Thanksgiving dinner for those in need

The holiday season is often spent with friends and family, but for some, visiting with loved ones isn't an option. A local church made sure those who can't go home for Thanksgiving still had a hot meal to enjoy.

Those with the Grant Worship Center said the meal is not just for the homeless, but for families whose parents work doubles, college students who can't make it home, or anyone in the community who needed a Thanksgiving dinner.

Cathy Beans is a Steward Pro-tem and volunteer for the Grant Worship Center. “From turkeys to about five different types of desserts and all of the fixings in between, we wanted to make certain that the bounty was full. It's not just those who are obviously in need, those who are homeless, etc., those who have two income families that may be in need during this time, and we want to share with them as well,” she said.

Sylvester Delaney Patton, III, is the Pastor for the church, “Some students can’t be with their families, and within in the community we have a lot of homeless, a lot of oppressed, those that are disenfranchised, they don’t feel anyone is looking out for them,” he said.

This is the first year the church has hosted a free Thanksgiving dinner, “We weren't charging anything, we weren't asking folks to join our church, this is just an outreach of food, family and fellowship,” Pastor Patton said.

Church members volunteered their time and prepared for months, but the last few days they said was the big test to getting the Thanksgiving fixings ready. “The true grunt work has really gone forth in the last 3-4 days, we cooked I believe 20 turkeys, a lot of food. People are working together, that have never worked together before, we have men making potato salad, it's just been awesome, we've all come together, no big I's no little U's,” Pastor Patton said.

All their combined effort was greeted with hundreds of people grateful to enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal. “We thought it was an awesome turnout, we were looking to bless others, and I think we succeeded in doing that,” Beans said.