Posted by Nick Dutton - email
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTOL) - Thanksgiving is a day when folks pause to give thanks for the good things in their life, but not everyone is so fortunate. Local volunteers were up early Thursday to help feed the needy in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
The Toledo Gospel Rescue Mission on 20th and Jefferson held a free breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
Fred used to be homeless. He says every day was a struggle to eat. "I look at it as a blessing… some folks don't have enough at the house to eat… and breakfast is the start."
He says he's back to and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and see friends.
People kept pouring in and all had a story to tell.
Linda says her home is being foreclosed and condemned. She says being around her friends helps ease the pain and so do the 30 or so volunteers from First Baptist church in Oregon.
It's Anne and her family's first time helping.
"If you have a house and a bed and clothes and you know where your next meal's coming from, you're really fortunate," said Anne.
Volunteers at the Cherry Street Mission also put together a Thanksgiving breakfast.
"I think it's a great thing they do. They do it every year, you know and every year it gets better than the last, so I think it's really good," said Jimmy.
Together, the agencies made sure Thanksgiving wasn't lost for those who otherwise would have gone without.
The Cherry Street Mission will serve up meals to hundreds on Thanksgiving and volunteers will also deliver hot meals to area families.
Dinner will be served at three locations:
- The Madison Food Service and Community Center
- The Erie Street Market
- The Good Samaritan Outreach Center on Broadway
Also Thursday, The Warren AME Church is hosting its twelfth annual community dinner. This is the sixth year for The Pilgrim Church's Meal on Sylvania Avenue. Everyone is invited to The Thomas Temple Church of God in Christ. And folks in Elmore are invited to Woodmore High School for a Thanksgiving Meal.
As a reminder, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, all city, state and federal government offices are closed, as well as banks and financial institutions.
There will be no mail delivery and no garbage pick-up. In Toledo, trash day will leap forward.
