Linda Priest waited more than an hour for her share of the holiday meal Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry offered Tuesday.
"This is very important for all the hungry people out there," said the 52-year-old Hickory woman. "It replaces a mom they don't have … It shows there's still hope."
As she said grace and ate her share of the small feast, Priest said she thought of her own mother who died in January.
For three years, area volunteers, including business owners and individuals, have played a mother's nourishing Thanksgiving role.
Viewmont's Curves and Center Street Eats teamed up to provide turkey. Gentiva Home Health collected and donated side dishes. Crowne Plaza gave 150 desserts. Other folks volunteered to serve as a crowd of people lined up for turkey and trimmings.
The ministry operates a food pantry year-round, along with financial help in times of crisis, healthcare and a pharmacy and a thrift store for low-income Catawba County residents. The agency wouldn't have the resources to serve a holiday meal if it weren't for the community support, said Roger Baker, the executive director.
It was the third year for the holiday meal. Thirty minutes after the door opened, Baker predicted it would be the biggest one yet. He also said it was the first time children had been among the people waiting for a Thanksgiving meal.
Some of the people the ministry fed are homeless, like 44-year-old Mel, who didn't want to give her name. Not only was Tuesday's turkey the only Thanksgiving dinner she would get, she said it was the only way she would have eaten at all that day.
Others are out of work an unable to afford regular meals, like 28-year-old Angela Hicks, who said she wouldn't see a turkey this season if it weren't for the ministry.
All are thankful in their own way.
"It made everybody happy," Priest said. "You can see smiles on their faces today."
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