By Rylee Freeman, Staff Writer
When thinking about a traditional Thanksgiving, families are gathered together, tables are set with delicious ham and turkey and there are so many sides that you can barely fit them all on your plate. Dessert tables are overflowing with sweet treats, laughter echoes from the children’s table and a spirit of thankfulness fills the room.
However, the traditional Thanksgiving is not a reality within reach for many families. Instead, family may be the one thing holding the holiday together, whether that be because of financial hardships or difficult circumstances.
Each year, the Elrod Center sets a goal to meet the needs of those in the community who are experiencing hardship by providing them with a basket filled with everything needed to prepare a Thanksgiving meal. Baskets include nonperishable items such as canned vegetables and boxed mixes, a fully baked frozen ham, books, Bibles and handwritten notes from students.
To identify families in need, the Elrod Center works with community partners to receive names and build a list of recipients. Each year, around 100 to 120 families are served through the Thanksgiving Baskets program.
Leigh Anne McKinney, Director of the Elrod Center, said that this program would not have become what it is today without the help of volunteers. “We have this powerhouse of volunteers,” McKinney said. “We can actually go and make a delivery to the homes.”
By personally delivering the baskets, volunteers have the opportunity to serve families face-to-face, build relationships with them and offer prayer and encouragement.
Students have many opportunities to get involved with the program, making it an easy way to volunteer and work with the Elrod Center. Students can purchase food donations and drop them off at the Elrod Center by Wednesday Nov. 4. Students can also help with assembling the baskets on Monday Nov. 16 between 8 a.m. to noon. Delivering baskets will take place on Wednesday Nov. 18 between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., which is when the Elrod Center will need the most help.
While delivering, recipients are given a paper with a QR code that links to a Google Form where they can share specific prayer requests. This allows volunteers to continue praying for the families throughout the holiday season and beyond.
“College students bring a lot of fun, joy and energy, and when you show up on the steps of someone’s home with a big smile on your face and a big ole box full of good things, it’s just a joyful time,” McKinney said.
Addison Davis serves as the student leader and coordinator for the Elrod Center’s Thanksgiving baskets program. Davis handles much of the behind-the-scenes work, helping ensure the project runs smoothly and successfully meets its goal of serving families in the community. Through the opportunity to serve in this position, Davis said she has learned how great the need is in every community. “We are being the hands and feet of Jesus and serving those that need to be served,” Davis said. “So many people need help and in so many different ways too.”
Through the Thanksgiving baskets program, the Elrod Center is using its resources to meet a need within the community and serve families facing difficult circumstances. While the program may play only a small part in their lives, the focus is not on the volunteers themselves, but on the families they serve and on embodying the love of Christ through service.
More information, including a list of items needed for the baskets, important dates and other details, can be found in an email sent to all students by Leigh Anne McKinney.
