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A Thanksgiving gesture to those who serve
Patrol officers included in South Side church’s outreach
YOUNGSTOWN
Police officers will be patrolling Youngstown streets as usual this Thanksgiving, but they will not miss out on the traditional Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey and all the trimmings.
Brennetta and Rudy Stephens, married members of the Christian Revival and Discipleship Center on the South Side, have joined forces with church Pastor Kenneth Paramore and a host of church volunteers in preparing meals for officers working the holiday shift. The church also will be offering meals to anyone without a meal or individuals who have no one with whom they can share the Thanksgiving holiday.
Brennetta Stephens said volunteers plan to bring about 26 dinners to the Youngstown Police Department early Thanksgiving Day for all the officers working in the downtown office. She said officers patrolling the streets can stop by the church and have dinner there also.
Rudy Stephens said the church finds food for those without all year long and has been having the Thanksgiving feast for two years. He said the church, this year, wanted to make a special effort to include officers who are working and not able to come to the church facility.
“We branched out further this year. We feel as though we need to help them because they are always helping us. We want to help take some of the stress off of them,” he said. “We know they can go home and eat, but we want to relieve the pressure while they are there working.”
The Stephens family and church volunteers started cooking the meal earlier this week. Those receiving dinners or coming to the church can expect to find turkey, dressing, ham, oxtails, roast, greens, cabbage, yams, rice, green beans, potato salad and various desserts.
The Stephens family does not cook a separate Thanksgiving meal at home. They bring their entire family and some friends to the church to enjoy the holiday meal with those visiting the church.
Brennetta Stephens said the family has been involved in feeding the community for a number of years. She said it is a mission from God.
“This is something that God has laid on our hearts. My father always said to give, don’t always have your hand out to receive, but give and God will bless, and He has,” she said.
Officers — and anyone on the East Side — this Thanksgiving also can get a home-cooked meal from members of Old Glory Nondenominational Church. The church will be handing out free meals to all who come to the community building inside the Victory housing complex.
The Rev. Emanuel Adams, pastor of the church, said church members will be at the facility from noon until the last meal has been taken. Members of that church also started cooking earlier in the week.
“We have 200 dinners, and we are serving until they are gone,” he said.