St. Paul UMC Feeds Hundreds in Thanksgiving Day Community Feast

Thanksgiving Day was one filled with abundance and thanks as families in need gathered at St. Paul's United Methodist Church on Nov. 28 - Thanksgiving Day - for the third annual free Thanksgiving Community Feast, providing a variety of goods from baked and fried turkeys, to baked items, clothes, shoes, blankets, and medical kits for those in need. After an opening prayer led by Pastor David McGlocklin to bless the food, McGlocklin shared, “This truly blesses my heart as the pastor of this church, that we are able to be of service to the community. It is time to share the thankfulness within our hearts.” Giving his helping hand while in the kitchen, along with many other church members and volunteers, John Atu, Assistant Pastor of Colton’s United Methodist Church, explained, “I am grateful. This is one of the ways we all can give back to God and to the people of God. It should be an ongoing thing, and that is where we are all trying to lead the church. I believe that we are being able to be filled with the spirit of God with gratitude and thankfulness.” With her husband Bert Roark by her side, Liz Roark said, “It is such an awesome thing! Every year we have asked for volunteers and food, and God provides. It is a wonderful way of showing that God is alive and working among us.” Assisting in the room filled with canned goods donated by many volunteers, husband and wife John and Patricia Richardson both agreed that helping with St. Paul's Community Feast was "the most rewarding experience.” Volunteer Cynthia Vitto said, “My family has always served on Thanksgiving. It is our family’s belief that if you have enough, then you have enough to give. So we are here every year to make sure we are giving to others, and to make sure that everybody has clothes to wear and food to eat.” The Thanksgiving Community Feast continued throughout the day until 3 p.m., where many in attendance were provided with to-go grocery bags to take additional food with them.