Church offers holiday meals for everyone
By DAVE ROSSMAN Staff Writer
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
United Methodist Church, at 9087 Glades Road, is having a free Thanksgiving Dinner Thursday that is open to all.
Pastor Gary Webb said the church is making community outreach and engagement a top priority, and that they are hoping for a big turnout.
"The idea began with one of our congregation's leaders who had done something similar in Orlando, and our church seemed like a perfect fit. We plan to be there all day until the food runs out," he said.
Fellowship co-chairwoman Sharon Raddock came up with the idea and said it was embraced immediately.
"We welcome anyone and everyone from the community. It doesn't matter if they are homeless, have no family here or can't afford to put dinner on the table, and there will be no questions asked," Raddock said.
The food is being donated by Publix and Honey Baked Hams, and Dr. Ronald Laracuente is donating T-shirts for the event.
Raddock said they decided to organize the dinner because of the economic downturn and to offset some of the hardships.
"There really is so much pain in the community right now. From foreclosures to job loss, these really are trying times, and everyone should be pitching in to do whatever they can," she said.
Boca Raton resident Christina Torres has been coming to United Methodist for four years and is one of several volunteers pitching in to make the day happen.
"Five years ago, most of us would never have thought the economic problems we face would be possible. We cannot just put our heads in the sand and pretend that people are not really hurting," she said.
Torres also said the problems seem to be mounting, and there are countless families only one missed paycheck from disaster.
Director of Congregational Care and Caring Tom Tift said the church continually reaches out to the community, but typically does so through supporting agencies.
"We are very active with several organizations, including Boca Helping Hands, but this is something we felt really needed to be done," he said.
The church has had a Thanksgiving Day meal in the past, but on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and exclusively for church members.
For information, call Raddock at 561-852-5642.
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