Story by Laura Clift and photo credit: Jerome Saintjones
Sometimes it is good to revisit a childhood memory and wonder why you do so.
It is an opportunity to reflect on the one thing that was a common thread in the prayers and lives of the fore parents and neighbors. The men and women praised and thanked the Almighty for their blessings and asked that their neighbors be looked upon favorably. Meanwhile, they planted gardens, raised livestock, and shared the harvest with their neighbors. It was not only at Thanksgiving that this wonderful giving occurred, but anytime food was harvested.
Neighborhoods have evolved over time but love for our neighbors still exists in the hearts of the people at Lakeside United Methodist Church 3738 Meridian Street NE, Huntsville. In preparation for a recent pre-Thanksgiving drive- thru Give away event at the church by the members of the Thanksgiving Ministry, church members donated canned food items to supplement a turkey for a complete Thanksgiving meal in a bag. Volunteers organized the items and packed bags for easy distribution to community neighbors at the church on November nineteenth 2023. Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated undergrad chapter, Gamma Mu, at Alabama A&M University contributed many canned items, while friends of Lakeside members also contributed many selected items. We are extremely appreciative of all the public service announcements given to the public by local radio and television stations.
The Thanksgiving Ministry was blessed to serve one-hundred and thirty- three families with items to prepare dinner. The Pastor of Lakeside United Methodist Church, Dr. Randy B. Kelley, opened every car door to place the bags in the car, while the work crew shouted “Happy Thanksgiving” to our neighbors with a loving smile. This was an outgrowth of a childhood memory.
