Rescue mission needs Thanksgiving turkeys
The Downtown Rescue Mission’s most urgent need for Thanksgiving dinner is 10-12 pound turkeys or monetary donations. (CONTRIBUTED)
HUNTSVILLE – If Madison County residents can help, the Downtown Rescue Mission will give out more than 800 Thanksgiving dinner boxes this year. However, the mission needs the public to donate turkeys.
Every year, Downtown Rescue Mission helps the homeless and families in need during the Thanksgiving holidays.
“To serve those families in the community who can’t afford to purchase a traditional Thanksgiving Meal, the mission will prepare boxes filled with items needed to cook a Thanksgiving Meal, such as a frozen turkey, stuffing, green beans, yams, fruit cocktail and rolls,” Tonia Beverly said.
Beverly serves as the mission’s director of events and business partnerships.
The turkey boxes will be handed out on Nov. 23-24 after a special service in the chapel.
“This year, our most urgent need is for 10-12 pound turkeys or monetary donations to purchase them,” Beverly said. Individuals or businesses can buy packaged fresh or frozen turkeys and can be dropped off at the mission’s main campus at 1400 Evangel Drive in Huntsville.
“All turkeys must be donated on or before Sunday, Nov. 15,” Beverly said. “Monetary donations to be used toward the purchase of turkeys are also greatly appreciated.”
In other service, the mission honored veterans on Nov. 9, with special attention to homeless veterans, director of men’s ministries Kevin Mays said. Dr. Kerry Walker, senior director of ministries, presented a special message.
Each veteran was recognized for their service and presented with a special gift commemorating their service to the United States. The North Alabama Pan-Hellenic Council coordinated a lunch catered by Outback Steakhouse.
According to a 2014 report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than one in ten homeless adults are veterans. Almost half of those are Vietnam War vets.
The Downtown Rescue Mission provides food, clothing and shelter to the homeless of North Alabama and South Tennessee. For more information, call 256-536-2441, ext. 343, email to tonia@downtownrescuemission.org or visit downtownrescuemission.org.
