The 26th annual Community Thanksgiving Feast will once again help usher in the holiday season for area residents. It is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Howard Payne University Mabee Center. The traditional Thanksgiving meal will consist of turkey and dressing and all the trimmings.
The annual tradition has been supported throughout the years by numerous individuals and organizations. Last year, almost 1,900 meals were served on campus and through the home delivery program in Brownwood and Early.
“The continued success of this event is a strong testimony about our community. This will be the 26th year in that volunteers and donors give their time and money to make Thanksgiving a very special holiday for their neighbors and themselves,” said Bill Fishback , Assistant Vice President for Business and Human Resources at HPU. “Last year, more than 100 volunteers helped serve meals at Howard Payne’s Mabee University Center or deliver meals to those who could not join us on campus. Some supporters started sending donations weeks ago, prior to our reminding them about this year’s meal! Even with the current economic slowdown, I have learned not to worry about the generosity of people in Brown County. They know the cost of preparing the meals is covered entirely by donations from individuals and organizations in the community and I know they will come through again this year…they always do!”
The staff of Howard Payne’s Sodexho Food Service spends the day preparing the food so others can enjoy the Thanksgiving meal without having to cook. Anyone in Brownwood and Early who cannot join those gathering at the Mabee Center can have meals delivered to their home by calling the Brownwood-Area Chamber of Commerce no later than Friday, November 20th, at 325-646-9535.
“The most difficult part of coordinating the event is finding enough jobs for all of the people who want to help, and that’s a great problem to have.” said Fishback. “Many of the volunteers have helped for years, so serving others is now part of their family’s annual Thanksgiving tradition. This will be my 17th year coordinating the event and there are many people I see only at Thanksgiving when they come to help or eat, so the day is like a big reunion with hundreds of friends and family, all having a great time! Volunteers do not need to call to let us know they are coming. They simply need to show up at the Mabee Center at 10:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day and we will put them to work,” Fishback said.
The meal is free and no one should feel obligated to pay, but if you would like to help support the Thanksgiving meal, you can give a donation when you arrive at the Mabee Center or make checks payable to the “Community Thanksgiving Feast,” and send them to Bill Fishback at Howard Payne University, 1000 Fisk Street, Suite 210, Brownwood, Texas 76801.
“Last year, we served over 600 people at the Mabee Center and 1,267 meals were provided to friends who could not join us on campus,” Fishback said. “We always have fun visiting with each other and with our guests and I want to thank those who continue to give their time and money to this wonderful event. We hope to make Thanksgiving a joy-filled day for our friends as we give thanks to the Lord for blessing us in so many ways.”
