The spirit of Thanksgiving was so strong with one local family eating at the annual Feed the Flock free holiday meal Thursday that several children in the clan got up after eating and helped serve others at Columbus Baptist Church.
The Rev. Charles Kennedy, the church’s pastor, was touched by the scene and told the father so.
“That was such a blessing,” Kennedy said.
About 60 volunteers served a record 965 meals, including both dine-in and carryout, according to Kennedy. The previous record was 817 set last year. And a team of 100 volunteers at First Christian Church worked alongside Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center to serve 518 meals on Thanksgiving Day, including dine-in and carry-out.
“It was a great day,” said the neighborhood center’s Diane Doup, one of the veteran coordinators who has given up much of her holiday for years.
The meals at both sites are meant for those with nowhere else to go for the holiday, those who would rather not eat alone, or even those without the wherewithal to prepare a holiday meal.
Volunteer drivers delivered meals to areas well beyond Columbus, including Petersville, Hope, Ogilville, Azalia and elsewhere, according to organizers.
“Some of the people who ate are part of our regular (Feed the Flock) meals served throughout the year (on the fourth Fridays January through October),” Kennedy said. “And maybe a lot of the others came as a result of better word-of-mouth awareness. I’m not sure the increase was because of anything to do with the economy.”
Though the meals aren’t necessarily about the needy, there have been some diners through the years who have mentioned that the turkey-and-trimmings dinners help save them money during tight times. Kennedy mentioned that his church, which also uses volunteers from other churches and food donations from a wide range of individual and business donors, is honored to be a part of helping others.
But he said organizers may need a plan for the meal after this year.
“We’re just about at the point that we don’t have enough room,” Kennedy said.
