The 28th annual Community Thanksgiving Feast will once again usher in the holiday season for area residents. It is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Howard Payne University’s Mabee University Center.
The tradition has been supported throughout the years by numerous individuals and organizations. Last year, more than 1,900 meals were served on campus and through the home delivery program.
“This has been a fun, community-wide project of neighbors caring for neighbors for many years,” said Bill Fishback, assistant vice president for business and human resources at HPU. “More than 100 volunteers, including entire families, will help serve meals at the Mabee Center or deliver meals in Brownwood and Early to those who cannot join us on campus. It is also heart-warming to know the costs of the meals are covered entirely by donations from individuals and organizations in the community.”
The staff of HPU’s Sodexo Food Service prepares the meals. Anyone unable to join friends and neighbors at the Mabee Center can have meals delivered to their home by calling the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce 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,” Fishback said. “Many of the volunteers have helped for years, serving others as part of their annual Thanksgiving tradition. This will be the 20th year my family has helped with the meal. We love serving and seeing the joy on the faces of the volunteers and our guests.”
“Because of the generous gifts last year, we have some money left in the account to help us get started on this year’s meal and the community always comes through, so I am not worried about paying the bills,” he said.
The traditional Thanksgiving meal will consist of turkey, dressing and all the trimmings.
“Last year, we served 675 meals at the Mabee Center and volunteers delivered more than 1,260 meals to our friends in the area,” Fishback said. “We always have fun visiting with each other and our guests and I want to thank everyone who continues to give their time and money to support this wonderful event. The meal is free and we do not want anyone to feel obligated to pay. We want to make Thanksgiving a joy-filled day for our friends as we give thanks to the Lord for blessing us in so many ways.”
Volunteers who want to serve or deliver meals should arrive at the Mabee Center at 10:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
“Volunteers do not need to call to let us know they are coming. They simply need to show up and we will put them to work,” Fishback said.
If you would like to help support the Thanksgiving meal, please 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.
Pictured above are volunteers and others enjoying the 2010 Community Thanksgiving Feast.
