For many residents in the Golden Triangle, Thursday will be a day to celebrate with family around food and laughter. However, for some elderly Columbus citizens, Thanksgiving will be just another day that they spend alone.
One local group of women is trying to change that. And they needed volunteers.
What started in a small kitchen with four friends has turned into a massive community-wide event that feeds more than 1,000 people.
As the event grew, Columbus Fire and Rescue and the Columbus Police Department got involved and began to help deliver the meals.
Explaining how the CPD became involved, Officer Rhonda Sanders said, “They were going out in some of these neighborhoods and we wanted to make sure our volunteers were safe.”
While the officers originally became involved to escort the volunteers, they soon became volunteers themselves.
“It makes me appreciate my food when I sit down with my family and be thankful after I’ve delivered and fed the hungry who need help,” Sanders said. “If you just want that feeling of helping someone, that’s enough reason to come out and volunteer.”
Sanders said Thursday’s effort still needs volunteers to help box up the food and deliver it to those in need.
“We’re going to be fixing plates and if you want to deliver, we need that, too,” she said. In addition, Sanders said they also need people to wash dishes.
“I know a lot of people don’t like to do that but if we have enough people to rotate out on helping us do that, we can all get home to our families at a decent time.”
Sanders said she and her fellow officers volunteer as a way to be a visible force in the community.
“We are public servants,” she said. “A lot of times, people see police officers as taking people to jail. We want to unite the community. This is a way we can give back.”
Those interested in volunteering are asked to arrive at Stokes-Beard Elementary School at 8 a.m. Thursday. Breakfast will be provided.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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