Giving back at Thanksgiving

Ministers alliance sponsors turkey giveaway for needy

Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by GARY SMITH Jamal McGowan loads turkeys destined for needy families Monday. Donors Dianne, left, and Steve Proctor, right, help coordinate the distribution. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

The Ministers Alliance of Charles County and Vicinity helped put the emphasis on giving for Thanksgiving as the group and other organizations throughout the area distributed 2,200 turkeys and side dishes Monday.

Several community members stood in the cold at the Community Church of God in Christ in Waldorf awaiting a truck loaded with Thanksgiving meals to take back to their organizations, where those in need could pick them up. The turkeys were provided by a donation from G.S Proctor and Associates.

Steve Proctor and his wife, Dianne, came to Waldorf on Monday to assist with the distributions.

"We're happy that we can give back to the community," Steve Proctor said.

Proctor said many of his clients donate to the event and a similar event for the Christmas holiday. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, G.S Proctor and Associates contributes nearly $50,000 for the food distribution, which over the past 10 years has grown a lot, according to Proctor.

"As much as we are doing, it's still not enough," said the Rev. Willie Hunt, president of the ministers alliance.

Hunt said while Monday's distribution would not feed everyone in need this Thanksgiving, "It is a blessing to be able to serve so many."

When the Safeway truck arrived, the group of representatives of churches and organizations, including several volunteer fire departments in Prince George's County, gathered by the truck to unload and make sure each organization got its portion of turkeys and for some corn, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy.

Many organizations put together baskets of side dishes to go along with the donated turkeys.

"It does make a difference," Sandy Washington, spokeswoman for the event, said of the 2,200 turkeys donated.

Washington is also the executive director of LifeStyles of Maryland, a social service nonprofit based in La Plata.

"When you see people [receiving turkeys] you know that if it were not for this, their holiday would not be a holiday," Washington said.

Despite the cold weather Monday morning, community members were eagerly dividing turkeys and working together, making sure each group got its amount to distribute to those who may not otherwise have a meal for Thanksgiving. With smiles and laughter throughout the morning, community members made the best of a cold and somewhat late start to the annual distribution.

The Rev. Herman Warren of New Life Baptist Church of Southern Maryland in Indian Head saw the meaning of Thanksgiving come out in all who helped to make Monday's event possible.

"That's why they call it Thanksgiving; it's a blessing to give," he said.

gphillips@somdnews.com