Thanksgiving is a season where people are reminded to be thankful. The name of the holiday alone suggests the two elements most prominent in this season of the year-thankfulness and giving. Saturday November 19 marked a day of provisions for those in need in local communities. People who were both thankful and giving were in full effect in many surrounding cities.
Unity of the Faith ministry, a Moreno Valley based food pantry began their giveaway early in the morning as hundreds lined up to receive groceries and be entered into a raffle for a turkey. Families in need, single parents, disabled veterans and many others were given bags of groceries with meat, fruits, vegetables, and side dishes to hopefully sustain them for the next couple of weeks. The recipients were asked to register and provide minimal household information and bags are packed according to their family size. “We packed 108 bags of groceries yesterday in preparation for today’s giveaway. If more people come we will make more bags!” says Jean Perryman, a volunteer at the pantry. And more bags they did make. Unity of the Faith and its volunteers ended up giving out much more than 108 bags of groceries, as volunteers worked feverishly to provide for all those who showed.
Veteran’s park, in the city of Colton, was filled with hundreds of families and individuals in need as well. Community In Unity, a monthly event intended to provide services and resources to those in need were also hard at work Saturday. The event hosted by Community in Unity for Better Living and Wellness Outreach and Sick N' Tired Recovery Home, and a host of volunteers, came together to bless the community with music, resources, groceries, a hot Thanksgiving meal, and a short sermon by Pastor John Braxton Jr. The event, which has been held for the past 2 years at Veterans Park, is coming to a close at that location and will be held in various locations in San Bernardino for the coming year. The final event in Colton will be next month December 15, 2017, for the Third Annual Christmas Toy Giveaway, at 290 E. O Street, Colton.
Community Action Partnership and Young Visionaries aligned together to provide the San Bernardino community with a fun-filled 4 hour event. The 13th annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway and resource fair drew thousands of community members out to their location near the San Bernardino International Airport. 1000 turkeys and holiday food bags were given away free of charge to those who were willing to come out and take part in the festivities. Families were welcomed by music, dancers, clowns, and jumpers as they waited for their food bags. Wells Fargo presented a check of $15,000 to the Young Visionaries in an effort to help further their cause.
At a time when so much of what we hear and see are heart-wrenching stories of devastating loss both of life and possessions due to fires and unexplained tragedies, City News Group would like to highlight and commend those who continue to give selflessly and go above and beyond to bring hope and happiness to those in their surrounding communities. We thank you and will continue to be a herald of the positive events and people in our communities at this time of year and always. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember to give when you are able to and be thankful always.