Local emergency service providers and other volunteers found another way to serve their community Thursday morning by making sure a few of the most needy and underserved among us had a hot delicious meal for Thanksgiving.
Over 270 food trays were prepared and delivered by more than 50 volunteers. The meals included smoked turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, green beans, and rolls along with a homemade dessert.
The project was organized by members of the DeKalb Emergency Services Association in partnership with local businesses and volunteers.
“Over the last couple of days we’ve cooked turkeys and gathered up all the food. Today we’ve been preparing and packing up the food at the county complex. We’re serving 272 meals to people all over DeKalb County. We feel this is just another way for our local emergency service providers to serve our community,” said Blake Cantrell, DESA President.
Cantrell said the DESA learned of these families through referrals and from others who called wanting to be added to the list. “We had different people who were referred to us and then through WJLE we put out the word and many people called in and then we had others who called in for loved ones who would not have had a Thanksgiving dinner otherwise,” said Cantrell.
Along with the volunteers who helped prepare and deliver the food, the DESA received great support for the effort by others in the community through donations of money or food and a special thanks goes to them.