Zach Smith, right, serves up food to Carter Snyder during Grace's Kitchen Thanksgiving meal drive.
Matthew Tangeman
Crew cooked 34 turkeys and more than 200 pounds of meat in preparation
Grace’s Kitchen, located in St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, spent the past month roasting 34 turkeys and over 200 pounds of meat in preparation for the 500 meals they were expecting to give out on Thanksgiving Day.
“Food is kind of my love language,” said Chris Snyder, who helps coordinate the kitchen during this event along with his family. “And so to be able to share that with individuals and be able to to just enjoy a meal together, I think it’s everything that's perfect.”
Since the pandemic hit, the Thanksgiving meal drive has shifted from a dine-in event to a take-out and delivery system, which allows them to serve more of the community.
“What we've seen this year is this new pattern of somebody signing up and saying, OK, I'm going to take four, so I can give some to my neighbor. There's this extra tier now,” said Victoria Atkins, who helped coordinate the event. “So that just gives me hope for the world.”
“You know, Thanksgiving is basically about gratitude,” said Atkins. “We shouldn’t just be grateful. We should act, and show our gratitude.”
Cedar Taylor, left, and Ray Taylor, center, serve up food to Beth Mitchell, right, during Grace's Kitchen Thanksgiving meal drive.
Matthew Tangeman
Two of the complete Thanksgiving meals given out by Grace's Kitchen. Over 500 meals were expected to be given out on Thursday, with around 70 volunteers helping the cause.
Matthew Tangeman
Volunteers distribute meals to folks in need on Thanksgiving Day.
Matthew Tangeman
Volunteers distribute meals to folks in need on Thanksgiving Day.
Matthew Tangeman
Beth Mitchell makes two Thanksgiving meals complete with a little bit of cranberry sauce.
Matthew Tangeman
The pie table during Grace's Kitchen Thanksgiving meal drive.
Matthew Tangeman
Folks line up outside St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Cortez for Grace's Kitchen Thanksgiving meal drive. Over 500 meals were expected to be given out, with around 70 volunteers helping the cause.
