Thanksgiving meals provided in Roanoke, Wadley
Two major Thanksgiving dinners will be provided for the public—one in Roanoke and one in Wadley, although there may be more. They are free and everyone is welcome.
Various churches, civic organizations and individuals are coming together to try ensure no one does without a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and the familial type of fellowship on Thursday. Both meals will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At First United Methodist Church McDonald Life Center in Roanoke, Share A Meal is are planning for at least 500 plates, according to Jeannie Volpe, who is hard at work as coordinator of this project.
It is a project dear to her heart.
“When I was a young mother I went to the grocery store and was clueless about the price of a Thanksgiving meal. I wanted my little girl to have wonderful memories of Thanksgiving. I wanted her to have everything I had not.”
She said: “I put the groceries on the counter and waited for the total and was shocked when it came. I asked the checker to put the turkey back and tried not to tear up. The man in line behind me paid for my order. I have never forgotten the kindness of that stranger. Every year at Thanksgiving I pray that wherever he is that God blesses him as much as he blessed me when I was a young woman alone in a grocery store buying my first turkey. I have never forgotten him. I never will. I encourage everyone to be that person for someone this holiday season.”
She added that having the opportunity to coordinate Share A Meal has blessed her. “I have been so moved by the businesses, churches, and individuals who have opened their hearts and given to Share A Meal. I really feel there will be plenty of food. We are prepared to serve 500 plates this year.”
Wadley Holdings (old Plantation Patterns) is sponsoring a Thanksgiving meal at the Wadley High School cafeteria.
“It’s a community effort from people in the churches… It’s community driven by the Kiwanis Club, the Quest club and others,” said Marty Schwartz, one of the workers.
Lunchroom manager Teresa Sutton will oversee the preparation, cooking and serving as she did last year.
“It is for anyone who will not have a Thanksgiving Day meal or will not have someone to share a meal with,” Schwartz said. His wife, Virginia, is helping do the preparation and he will help serve, he said. Anyone who wants to help can either show up or call him at 256-395-6000.
Many people do not have family anymore and anyone who wants fellowship and a meal is encouraged to attend, he said.
Wadley Methodist Church minister Bill Boggan said Gene Crouch and Wadley Holdings are buying the food and volunteers from his church and other churches, as well as lunchroom manager Teresa Sutton, will be working to prepare a meal.
“This is fantastic. You see a lot of larger churches doing this but for the smaller churches to link together to provide a meal this is wonderful. I am glad and pleased as punch to be a part of it,” Boggan said.
“It is completely free,” he said, in inviting anyone who does not have food or does not have anyone to share a meal with to come eat.
He was not in Wadley last year but from his understanding leftovers were taken to the jail where they got a very good response, he said.
They can use volunteers, donations and dessert donations, he said. Someone will be at the school Wednesday at 1 p.m. if anyone wants to help cook. There will also be people there at 8 a.m. Thursday morning if people want to drop off desserts or help set up tables.
Both meals will be traditional Thanksgiving fare with the meal at Roanoke First Methodist being turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls, cranberry sauce and desserts prepared by people from throughout the community who want everyone to have a good meal on this day.
At the church it might be easiest to park around back, entering the parking lot from Trammell Street and entering the center from the door farthest from the street.
Wendell Williams is in charge of cooking the meat and many people have volunteered to bring desserts.
Anyone who for any reason is unable to come to the Family Life Center should call 334-863-5433 as soon as possible to order a plate. Several people have volunteered to help with deliveries, Volpe said.
Volpe said she could never accomplish a project this large without the help of many volunteers. She said members of the planning team including Steve Baccus, Paula Camren and Linda Hurst were especially helpful.
More funds are always needed and she said if anyone feels led to give to this project she encourages them to write a check to Share A Meal and mail it to Share A Meal, P.O. Box 381, Roanoke, Ala. 36274. Volunteers are always welcome and there will be plenty of work to do, she said. The more people who volunteer the better this event will be.
“We will begin working at 3 a.m. and volunteers will be needed beginning at 6 a.m. If you have a question about volunteering please call 334-863-5433.
