The holidays are finally here and people are gearing up to celebrate Thanksgiving surrounded by family and plenty of food. However, not everyone is fortunate enough to take part in the festivities. This is why people around Memphis and Shelby County can participate in the second MemFeast.
MemFeast, held for the first time in 2019 at Memphis City Hall, is the newest iteration of the city's traditional Memphis Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless and Hungry. When it was nearly canceled last year, local churches stepped up to help provide meals to those in need on the holiday dedicated to giving thanks and giving back.
"On a day where so many people have an abundance of food, we want to make sure that those who are underserved, who are homeless, and those who may have hit a rough patch have something to eat," said J. Lawrence Turner, pastor at Mississippi Boulevard Church.
This year's event will be slightly different because of the pandemic. Rather than being held in one place, it will be spread out across multiple churches in the area. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day (November 26), those in need of food can visit one of the food trucks at a church to receive a box of pre-packaged food. Facial coverings should be worn to adhere to CDC guidelines.
Participating churches include Bellvue Baptist Church, Christ Missionary Baptist Church, First Baptist Broad, Greater Imani, Hope Presbyterian, Martin Memorial Temple CME, Mississippi Bouelvard Christian Church, Monument of Love, Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, and New Direction Church.
"In the midst of such a tough year, we can see our city come together," Turner said. "We are committed to making it through together."
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