Issue date: 11/24/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Stephen Fogg Volunteers at Epicures Catering work alongside Twin City Missions to help provide Thanksgiving meals to Bryan-College Station residents who might not otherwise have such a meal. [Click to enlarge]

Every Thanksgiving the Twin City Mission has a Thanksgiving Banquet where they cook a Thanksgiving meal, free of charge, for anyone in the community who is in need. All of the traditional Thanksgiving foods are cooked at the banquet, which is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, including turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, bread and more.

"Not only our clients come for the meal, but also those who don't have access to a traditional Thanksgiving meal," said Ron Crozier, the director of community relations for Twin City Mission. "Some choose to take the meals home to their families, and we make meals to go as well."

In 2008 they cooked 672 meals using 38 turkeys. Crozier said each year they factor in a percentage increase from the last, and this year they are looking at using 45 turkeys.

About 50 volunteers are also utilized as an essential part of the banquet. Crozier said people are so eager to help out around the holidays they get calls in August making sure they are on the list to volunteer for that day.

"The volunteers are wanting to give back and make difference, at least on that day, and it makes every one pause and remember what that day is about; it's not about the turkey, and it's not about the free meal," Crozier said. "What is really neat is that you see the faces of the individuals who know what Thanksgiving is about, and they are very appreciative that they don't go unnoticed."

Crozier said this experience does not only belong to Twin City Missions, the volunteers and the people who come to eat but also to the entire Bryan-College Station community.

"We call this the Twin City Mission Thanksgiving Day feast, but in essence Twin City Missions belongs to the community so it's a community Thanksgiving feast," Crozier said. "It is something I think the community is really proud of."

Epicures Catering provides another volunteer opportunity in which anyone can participate. Epicures delivers 1,200 meals on Thanksgiving Day to people in need at their homes around the area. Created by Danny Morrison, this will be their 26th year to deliver Thanksgiving meals. For the past few years Sbisa Dining Hall has allowed the use of their facilities to cook the food; however, this year due to the home football game they had to decline.

Epicures will be using 54 turkeys to make their meals, funded by donations and contributions. People can get involved by donating food, money, time or names and addresses of those in need of a meal. Meals are usually limited to six per household.

Morrison, who had originally intended to deliver Thanksgiving meals for profit, was touched by the first meal he delivered when a recently widowed man broke down in tears at the thought of having a Thanksgiving dinner. Morrison said he realized he would never be able to charge anyone.

"It's a very community-wide effort that we've created," Morrison said. "It's just a really fun experience and some of the people that come every year are so touched. It shows there is a greater being than yourself."

Volunteer Information
To volunteer for Epicures on Thanksgiving Day, arrive at 8 a.m. to help prepare food or by 10 a.m. to deliver it, at their building located at 2319 Texas Avenue South.

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