Church provides early Thanksgiving meal

An early Thanksgiving dinner for community members in need helps bring in the giving spirit. The church was expecting well over 100 people and that many people showed up.

The Greater Macedonia Church joined together with a Clarian Arnett housekeeping department to find food and serve it to community members in need. Church member Chiffion Tate said the food was plentiful.

"We have turkey and dressing. We have macaroni and cheese. We have baked beans. We have lots of desserts. We have string beans and potatoes," Tate said.

It's a time to be thankful for what you have. Church members at Greater Macedonia Church in Lafayette are very thankful. That is why they provided a free Thanksgiving dinner for anyone in the community.

"A lot of people take, but we give more than we receive. It does the heart good," Tate said.

"If we can help one another, it makes us feel good inside and it also does things to help improve the community," Clarian-Arnett Environmental Services Director Dawn Willis.

Church members have been working on making the food since morning and they said it's very important for everyone to have a thanksgiving dinner. Chris Smith came for the dinner and said he is grateful.

"I actually appreciate it because its hard times for people like me to get food," said Smith.

Jack Murphy also appreciated the free dinner.

"It's an amazing service they provide for us. For the homeless and the families that are too poor to provide," said Murphy.

Kenneth Thompson said he appreciates the church opening up their doors to everyone and providing a Thanksgiving meal.

"Some are less fortunate to not have the chance to get this kind of meal. So I feel given the opportunity to eat this meal is a blessing," Thompson said.

Tate hopes the meal helps everyone give thanks.

"Some people can't afford to go out and buy a thanksgiving meal but for the community, we wanted to prepare a Thanksgiving meal so they can have one. So they also have something to be thankful for," Tate said.

They also delivered meals to people who couldn't leave their home to come to feast.

The Greater Macedonia Church provides meals every other Sunday to anyone in need.