“You are my family,” the woman told LeeAnn and Bill Waller. “If you hadn’t hosted this Thanksgiving dinner, I would have been alone.”
This was just one of many heartfelt comments the Wallers received on Thanksgiving Day at The Soup Kitchen in Cornelia, where they served 150 people and prepared over 250 to-go plates.
An incredible day
“It was an incredible day,” LeeAnn said.
The Wallers have been involved with the Cornelia Soup Kitchen for four years, but this was the first time they organized a Thanksgiving dinner.
Feeling called to lead the event, they were thrilled by its success and are now considering hosting a Christmas dinner.
Bringing people together
Meanwhile, across the county, Eric Holbrooks, Darrin Johnston, Sherry Smith, and their families were busy smoking turkeys and preparing for a Thanksgiving feast at the First Presbyterian Church on Jefferson Street in Clarkesville.
“We had a woman come in and hug me. She hadn’t had a warm meal in four weeks,” Holbrooks shared.
The event brought together people from all walks of life. Holbrooks appreciated that it was an opportunity to unite people, transcending politics, financial status, and personal struggles, all in the spirit of fellowship.
This marked Holbrooks’s sixth year organizing the event. The first four were held at Stoney’s Restaurant in Clarkesville before it closed, and for the past two years, First Presbyterian Church graciously offered its commercial kitchen.
“We had about 25 volunteers and worked nearly 24 hours to prepare everything,” Holbrooks explained. “We even had a couple passing through on vacation who stopped by, enjoyed the meal with us, and made a donation.”
Planning for next year
In total, around 312 plates were served, making it a wonderful experience for all involved.
The Wallers and Holbrooks are now considering teaming up next year to combine resources and volunteer efforts, hoping to make the event even bigger and better.
