GREENSBORO — For the 17th year, members of Our Lady of Grace Church have provided Thanksgiving food to families in need in the Greensboro community. The first year, and for the next several years, 75 families received Turkeys and the traditional side dishes. This has now grown to 150 families – nearly 700 people – thanks in part to a grant the parish received the past two years from the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation.
The Thanksgiving Baskets Program now includes fresh produce (baking potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, oranges and bananas) and pantry staples (including rice, peanut butter, tuna, cereal, pasta and pasta sauce) to provide food for a longer period than just one feast.
Over the years, parishioners have embellished the food bags with extra items including soups, cereals, rice, pastas, canned meats and beans. The bags have also included candies, nuts, holiday napkins, placemats, dish towels, handmade dish cloths, baking pans, dessert mixes and more. One of the nicest items parish families include is a holiday card with their Thanksgiving wish to the receiving family.
“This is so much more than bags filled with food. The bags are filled with love and prayers from families to families,” said Patty Jennings, project coordinator.
Every group and organization in the parish is involved in the program. This year parishioners spent countless hours sewing reusable denim bags, school and faith formation students decorated the bags. Parish organizations donated money for the turkeys and more than 250 volunteers from throughout the parish assisted in preparing the 585 bags of food.
Pictured, Father Paul Buchanan, pastor, blesses the food and some of the volunteers before they went to distribute the bags to Greensboro residents for Thanksgiving.
— Martha Stepnowski and Barbara Markun