Shared Blessings hosts Annual Thanksgiving Dinner
Shared Blessings Homeless Shelter will be hosting their 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the shelter located at 518 Grove St. in Bonne Terre Nov. 27-30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Shared Blessings Director Shelly Bess said this time last year they began hearing stories of people that would not eat for days.
“There are children, seniors and homeless individuals that can not be admitted to Shared Blessings so the board of directors decided to try our first Thanksgiving Dinner,” said Bess. “We had nothing to offer but a building and by spreading the word of the proposed dinner asking for help with tables and chairs, paper supplies, food, ice, pans, and volunteers. The community response was nothing short of a miracle.”
The overwhelming response of support last year with donations of paper supplies, ice, pies, food, and whole meals has left the shelter hopeful to get just as much help this year. They had volunteers to cook, clean and serve. They had others supplying the take-out dinner containers, making the dinners and people delivering the dinners to those who could not come to the shelter. They served approximately 450 meals.
“My personal experience is that last Thanksgiving was the most inspirational act of service of God’s grace and love for mankind,” said Bess. “Humbled by the pure servant heart to reach those who needed it most. We are praying and spreading the word again that we can host this meal while sharing God’s love with any and all that want to share a meal and fellowship together.”
Anyone interested in participating in the Thanksgiving feast can contact Shared Blessings at sharedblessingsshelter@gmail.com or call 573-358-2998.
Shared Blessings is seeking donations and volunteers for their second annual Thanksgiving Dinner.
Renee Bronaugh is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3617 or rbronaugh@dailyjournalonline.com
