For the past 25 years, Annie Barry has spent most of her Thanksgiving Day giving.
Starting out in her own kitchen in 1994, Barry and her friends cooked and delivered hot meals to seniors and residents with disabilities in Lowndes County every year. What began as a small operation has expanded to serving thousands of county residents in need each year over more than two decades.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year, that is no longer an option.
“I was just nearly devastated,” Barry said. “It has been a part of my family since 1994. … We participate in it, and then we go back home and do our Thanksgiving.”
In its place, however, is a drive-through frozen turkey handout, which will take place at the Lowndes County Soccer Complex at 9 a.m. on Nov. 21, Barry said. The event — a joint effort of Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the city of Columbus, the Community Benefit Committee (CBC) and Salvation Army — is aimed to provide 500 turkeys to residents in need of a Thanksgiving meal, she said.
In the past, volunteers delivering hot meals to residents’ doors gathered at Stokes-Beard Elementary School for breakfast, Barry said. This year, because of safety concerns, there will be no cooked meals or large gatherings. Instead, volunteers will wear masks and gloves and hand out donated turkeys to drivers coming by, she said.
Beginning Nov. 3, the organizations participating began accepting turkey donations. Residents can drop off frozen turkeys or give money for turkey purchase at the Trotter Convention Center, LCSO, Salvation Army and Columbus Parks and Recreation Department.
As of Monday, the operation had received a total of 225 turkeys, including 100 turkeys from one donor alone, CBC president Rhonda Sanders told The Dispatch.
On the morning of the event, local residents in need must drive through the soccer complex and show a Lowndes County ID — such as their driver’s license — to prove their residence, Sanders said. Safety measures, such as the mask mandate, social distancing between volunteers and temperature checks will be in place, Barry said.
Barry said she’s glad to see locals continue to help those in need, especially during a pandemic.
“We are going to still help somebody,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about. Neighbors helping neighbors.”
Red Kettle drive
With the same spirit, Capt. Pradeep Ramaji, who took over as commander for the Columbus Salvation Army in June, said the Salvation Army will continue its annual Red Kettle fundraising drive this year. Most of it, however, will be online.
Traditionally, fundraising volunteers rang bells at physical kettles placed in local retail stores, and the drive did not begin until after Thanksgiving, Ramaji said. Last year, the campaign raised $65,000 and helped 3,142 people in need throughout the year, serving 21,302 meals and 11,409 nights for shelter, according to a Salvation Army press release.
This year’s operation begins this week with the same fundraising goal, Ramaji said. Physical kettles will be placed at 15 locations across the county, including Walmart and Kroger, he said, and the familiar bell-ringing volunteers will wear masks and gloves and maintain social distance.
“The customers love to see the smile of the bell ringers,” Ramaji said. “Now, they may be smiling behind the masks.”
Additionally, shoppers can scan the QR codes on red kettle signs and make digital donations, something new this year as a result of the pandemic, he said.
“With the younger generation, they don’t carry the cash,” Ramaji said. “… People should know that this bar code will be on the signboard of every kettle station.”
For Ramaji, fundraising amid a pandemic is challenging. It is harder to recruit volunteers and collect cash at fewer physical kettles, he said. Closure of brick-and-mortar stores, reduced shopper foot traffic among shops and a higher unemployment rate than past years could also be testing, according to the Salvation Army fundraising website.
But Ramaji said serving those in need is particularly important this year.
“Because of COVID, so many people have lost their employment,” Ramaji said. “I see that every day. … Some people got their employment (back), but still they need help.”
Yue Stella Yu was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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