Tri-State volunteers distribute Thanksgiving meals to those without
This is the season of giving and people around the Tri-State are making sure those most in need receive a meal this Thanksgiving.
Saturday morning the Prince Hall Masonic family, which includes the Masons, Eastern Stars and Shriners, distributed more than 500 Thanksgiving baskets.
"It's part of our mission to serve, and give back to our community and this is one of our largest events," volunteer Frank Bowen said.
They handed out baskets at the Bond Hill Recreation Center to families who were preselected to receive them. Families of every Rockdale Academy student received a basket.
"It's a privilege to have the staff at Rockdale to help out and care about the students," Rockdale parent Sharla Simmons said.
Bowen said they handed out 673 Thanksgiving baskets in all on Saturday.
Recipients received a turkey, eggs, celery, stuffing, rolls, onions, potatoes, green beans and corn, among other items.
"It's going to help me because I have to pay more money for my medicine, and I can't get it and buy the food I want," recipient Mitzi Jackson said.
The food was donated or bought with donations, and the baskets were assembled and distributed by volunteers.
"We had a lot of donors from the community pitch in, and volunteers from all over and it's been a great blessing," organizer Sheila Holmes Howard said.
In West Chester, Origins Church of West Chester served a full Thanksgiving meal to the students and families of Taylor Academy.