PANAMA CITY — Thanksgiving at a local shelter will be more than a meal for about 3,000 needy people.
“It gives you a feeling of normalcy,” said 50-year-old Clifton Rice, a resident at Panama City Rescue Mission for the past 28 months. “It’s not just for them to get a meal, but to go somewhere to have a meal among others that are the same as them.”
A Thanksgiving meal will mean “the whole world to them,” he added.
The Rescue Mission, located at 609 Allen Ave., will provide the Thanksgiving meal Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meal is free and anyone can attend.
Feeding about 3,000 needy people is made possible by efforts of the community, said Taylor Muma, the mission’s communications manager.
“We are opening our doors to anyone in need or anyone who would like to have Thanksgiving here with us,” Muma said. “It’s made possible by all sorts of people in our community.”
In January, meals offered to transients were reduced to one per day. Muma said no policy changes have affected the shelter’s Thanksgiving meal program.
“It’s all about sharing a hope in Christ; it’s that hope that opens the opportunity to make a change,” Muma added. “Everyone is welcome.”
Several local organizations have contributed to the Rescue Mission’s Thanksgiving meal through food donations, cooking and volunteerism.
Girl Scouts Troop 400 contributed to the Thanksgiving meal by donating 25 turkeys, 10 pies, several boxes of stuffing, gallons of beverages and other food items Monday.
Five-year-old Girl Scout Calli Seiler stood outside the shelter with a sad expression Monday when she realized she would not be delivering the food donations to the homes of needy people.
However, she said she knew why she collected food: “So we can help them and feed them.”
WANT TO GO?
- What: Thanksgiving at the Panama City Rescue Mission
- When: Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: 609 Allen Ave. (at the corner of U.S. Business 98)
- Cost: Free
- Details: 769-0783, pcrmission.org