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Thanksgiving dinner volunteers reap joy in service to others
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Seeing adults in action as volunteers provided a valuable lesson to five seventh-grade girls in Discovery at Kirkmere Elementary School.
The girls helped to serve a free turkey dinner and assist in a food distribution Thursday at E.B. Family Life Center, 7 S. Garland Ave.
About 400 people enjoyed an early Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, cranberry sauce, salad, rolls, pie and cake.
Then, in an orderly fashion as their numbers were called, people received bags of groceries from Second Harvest food bank including 10 pounds of chicken and fresh produce such as carrots, white and sweet potatoes and onions. On Monday, fifth- and sixth-grade girls from Discovery helped pack the grocery bags.
The dinner and food distribution are part of the center’s outreach program coordinated by Rosabelle Thompson, a member of Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, 1210 Himrod Ave. The church sponsors the center.
Thompson said the outreach program is one emphasized by church pastor, elder J. Dwayne Heard.
Thompson said she has been involved in the outreach effort by the church for a decade. She said the program distributes about 200 bags of groceries monthly with food from Second Harvest, Gleaners Pyatt Street Food Bank and donations.
“I love doing this,” Thompson said, adding, “It’s about helping families and the community.
“I like to eat, and I like seeing people enjoy eating,” she said of those attending the dinner. “People come for different reasons; some have lost jobs.”
LaDonna Walker-Newell, school-community liaison at Discovery, said the girls who served the dinner earned the privilege to do so.
“They were evaluated on their behavior,” Walker-Newell said.
She explained girls in fifth through eighth grades participate in GLOW (Girls Leading Our World), a mentoring program. Various behaviors are discussed, Walker-Newell said, and recently the focus has been on community service.
“By serving the dinner, the girls have an opportunity to reach out and help people,” Walker-Newell said. “It shows them no matter what age you are, you can help someone in need.”
Walker-Newell said two parent volunteers accompanied the group. She said other service projects are in the works.
Chunelle Price, 14, said Discovery is teaching her about “respect and responsibility.” She said she “likes to see people smile” and she smiled as she served the diners.
Kennaysia Moncrief, 12, said the event was “amazing” and a “nice way to help people.” She said helping at the dinner “was about taking care of people ...”
Amaree Collier, 12, said she liked helping in the community, while Antonishjah Henderson, 12, said it helped her understand there are less fortunate people that she could help. KeyAsia Thompson, 12, said serving at the dinner “was helping in my environment.”
Deacon Mac McGee was the head cook, supervising volunteers who prepared eight turkeys for the crowd.
“There’s no better thing to do than to give to others,” he said.
Rosalind McGraw and Iris Pippin of the culinary ministry at the church agree.
“I love to cook and like to see people smile,” McGraw said. “This is part of my ministry,” added Pippin.
Gladys Gandy, a 40-year church member, said it was “an honor to serve the community.”
Deaconess Anita Jones, a 22-year church member, added, “I try to help any way I can. This is my way of giving back.”