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Hosea Helps distributes food on Thanksgiving
Volunteers with Hosea Helps distributed food to hundreds of people on Thanksgiving morning in metro Atlanta.
ATLANTA - Atlanta’s Hosea Helps hosted its 55th annual Thanksgiving Day Festival of Services on Thursday, drawing hundreds of people for food boxes, cases of water and turkeys.
What we know:
There were long lines in the parking lot, which for the day functioned more like a grocery store as volunteers handed out bags and boxes of food during the nonprofit’s annual holiday distribution. Hosea Helps says it expects to serve about a thousand families this Thanksgiving. Leaders say the need is especially high this year after the government shutdown affected food assistance programs.
What they're saying:
"I am totally thrilled, kind of emotional," said Carolyn Ware, who picked up a food box and turkey. "This has been a very hard year for me, Hosea has always been here."
Ware said she lives in a senior complex and plans to share what she received with her neighbors. She said the giveaway may seem small to some, but its impact is clear.
"For them to come together like this actually makes me teary-eyed," she said. "I am so grateful and I hope the peoples in line is grateful too."
The distribution is part of the organization’s broader Thanksgiving Day Festival of Services, which also offered hygiene kits and emergency support.
"It’s what we live to do, to carry on the legacy of those who came before us," said Afemo Omilami, the organization’s chief operating officer. "I know Hosea Williams would be happy we're continuing to do what he started 55 years ago."
They say all the work is made possible by donations.
"It pleases me greatly to see the way the volunteers and the corporations have stepped up," said CEO Awodele Omilami.
Judge Glenda Hatchett was among those volunteering this year.
"I am absolutely grateful — you’re going to make me emotional about this — because we have got to be concerned not just for ourselves and our immediate families, but so many people are really suffering," she said.
What you can do:
Hosea Helps says it wasn’t able to assist everyone it hoped to this Thanksgiving and expects even more need during the Christmas season.
The group is asking anyone who can to donate. You can donate at www.4Hosea.org.