Published: Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009 / Updated: Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009 06:45 PM

Local volunteers, churches give happy Thanksgiving to needy

While many were at home today preparing to feast with family, several members of the Boyd Hill Baptist Church were in its kitchen preparing Thanksgiving dinner for those in the community who needed it.

Pastor James Barber loaded an SUV full of Styrofoam boxes to deliver to a shelter on Hampton Street. In those boxes was enough turkey, ham, yams, cabbage, green beans and rolls to feed 45.

“If people can't come here, we'll bring it to them,” Barber said. “No one's going hungry today.”

Boyd Hill Baptist Church is just one of several area churches preparing, serving and delivering meals to those without a dinner this holiday season. St. Anne Catholic Church also prepared meals for the needy today.

“We're serving lunch out of the goodness of our hearts,” Barber said. “We want to make sure those that want to eat can eat. We feel good knowing that we're doing something to help.”

Tracy Rowels was one of those picking up meals to bring back to her house and eat with others.

“It means a whole lot,” Rowels said of having Boyd Hill prepare a meal for her.

For the church's third annual Thanksgiving dinner, Barber said volunteers prepared enough food to feed 200.

Last year, they served more than 100 meals, and they were near that mark around 1 p.m. Thursday. Any leftovers will be given to the soup kitchen to serve Friday, Barber said.

Volunteers started preparing dinners around 9:30 a.m. Thursday with food that had donated by church members and friends, said Edith Miller, one of those volunteers.

“I think it's love and kindness,” Miller said. “We've been fixing plates and taking them out. I think it's spreading good cheer.”

Thomas Love said it's gratifying to help people who are not able to help themselves.

“We're out here to give a helping hand, to help serve whoever needs food,” Love said. “It's what we're supposed to do.”

Another volunteer, Tina Simpson, said she enjoys her Thanksgiving more after knowing she made a difference.

“To me, I can enjoy my holiday when I sit down and eat knowing I helped others sit down and have dinner on their holiday, too.”