Dozens of people danced and sang while waiting in a long line in Northeast D.C. on Tuesday afternoon, eager to receive a Thanksgiving meal basket featuring a turkey, along with fruit, bread and other staples.
The event was part of Project Feed 5000 鈥� an initiative that aims to feed that number of people across D.C. during the holiday week. The Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church owns the program.
鈥淚t helped put food on our tables,鈥� Rico Dancy said, adding some people are still recovering from the effects of the government shutdown.
Rodney Carter Jr., the church鈥檚 senior pastor, said the church has been running Project Feed 5000 for eight years, after noticing the positive impact it was having on the community.
The program has received over 80,000 pounds of food to distribute, including 1,200 turkeys, with more expected.
鈥淲e’re just hoping that this turkey and these different meal baskets will be able to just bring some hope and encouragement to families, to let somebody know that the church sees them and that they’re not by themselves,鈥� Carter said.
Each basket featured a 15- to 20-pound turkey with Thanksgiving sides.
Costco, U-Haul, St. Michaels, Ella’s Kids, You First Health Systems and Capital Area Food Bank sponsor the program.
鈥淚t means a whole lot,鈥� said one person in line who asked not to be identified. 鈥淟ot of people can鈥檛 even buy food. It鈥檚 tough out, it鈥檚 real rough. They鈥檙e giving turkeys out so we can feed our families and save a little bit of money. It means a lot to help us.鈥�
Sheila Strowbridge, meanwhile, said she has seven kids and eight grandkids, and 鈥渋t brings joy to my heart and peace to my soul to be able to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for the children.鈥�
Denise, who was there to get a Thanksgiving meal box, said many people 鈥渄on鈥檛 have today, and don鈥檛 know how they鈥檙e going to make it today, don鈥檛 know how they鈥檙e going to make it through. I鈥檓 very grateful.鈥�
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