More than 1,100 south suburban families — about 4,500 people — will have a better Thanksgiving meal Thursday thanks to the Turkey Day Giveaway sponsored Tuesday by Open Access in Homewood.
The sixth annual event has grown tremendously from its modest beginning at Open Access offices at 900 Maple Ave, in Homewood, according to organizers.
The sixth annual event has grown tremendously from its modest beginning at Open Access offices at 900 Maple Ave, in Homewood, according to organizers.
Geni Cutler, executive director of Suburban Access, Open Access’s parent organization, said the project began in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Homewood. It served 25 familes the first year.
“We figured we could join forces and do 100 families” the next year, she said. “We’ve just grown every year since.”
The “forces” that join the effort each year have grown, too, and that’s one reason so many families can be served.
Nick Koster, director of Open Access, said 15 social service organizations, including churches with food pantries and at least one veterans organization, pick up meals and distribute them to the families in their care.
Nick Koster, officials with
Suburban Access and
Open Access respectively,
pause during the busy Turkey
Day Giveaway on Tuesday.
(Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
“It’s just a big group of people who want to give,” he said. “It’s the best of Homewood, pulling together to make this happen.”
Among the local businesses that contributed to the project, Koster mentioned Walt’s Food Center, which provided food at a discount; Loulou Belle craft boutique, which provided more than 800 boxes of stuffing; the Villager, which collected canned green beans for the meal packages.
In addition to the social service organization outreach, families also came to the Open Access office found more than just a turkey dinner waiting for them.
One room off the lobby was filled with racks of winter clothes and tables of shoes and boots. Families were invited to browse the collection and choose what they needed.
There was another room set up for people to have refreshments and get warm. Along the walls were tables where representatives of other area social service agencies could advise families about services they could receive.
“This is a tremendous day of giving intended to ease the burden of our most vulnerable citizens this holiday season and to shine a light on the problem of hunger in our area,” Koster said in an email.