Giving thanks for all the help
Above, supplies, you and Dabney local puts cypress
Sacred Heart School 7th and 8th graders
helped sort canned goods and assemble
baskets in Walls and Olive Branch.
Nearly 2,000 people benefited from the help of Sacred Heart Southern Missions, its donors and volunteers this Thanksgiving.
Local businesses, churches and schools rolled up their sleeves and opened their pocketbooks to make sure there was a fabulous Thanksgiving feast on the table for more than 500 struggling families in the five northern counties of Mississippi that we serve. As in years past, the food baskets were packed full of all the necessities to put together a hearty holiday meal.
We received a huge outpouring from the local community. The many food drives hosted by local schools and businesses and a boy scout troop were instrumental in collecting the more than 11,695 pounds of canned goods, and other incidentals such as potatoes, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, sugar and the like that were needed to fill the baskets for these needy families. Thanks to some last minute donations, the grateful families also received some fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as pastries.
Long time supporter of the missions, Homer Skelton Hyundai, rounded out this year’s baskets with a whopping $5,000 donation for the purchase of turkeys. The store’s general manager, Chris Harville, said this project was one that was close to his heart. Having been touched by the sting of hunger as a child, Chris said he always remembered the generosity of people who helped his family many years ago, and wished to pay it forward.We are so thankful for the many people that helped make this event successful. Volunteers helped put food boxes together in the days before, then returned in full force to assist with distribution the Saturday before the holiday.
Northcentral Electric Power Association contributed canned goods and helped deliver baskets to our elderly and disabled clients in Rolling Hills Apartments.
Students at Holy Family School enjoyed their annual Thanksgiving meal courtesy of the wonderful cafeteria staff, then loaded up extra plates and delivered them to the independent living community across the street from the school.
A big thank you to the youth from Christ the King Church for staying overnight to help with basket assembly and distribution in Walls! At left, a handful of the many volunteers paused long enough for me to snap a picture.
Sacred Heart School students collected 1,500 pounds of food for the Thanksgiving baskets this year! Pleasant Hill and Walls Elementary as well as Lake Cormorant High School also held food drives for us. Others in the community who contributed canned goods included Boy Scout Troop #347, Bakers Chapel, Queen of Peace and Christ the King Catholic Churches as well as Homer Skelton Hyundai.
