The morning of Saturday, Nov. 21, hundreds of cars were lined up early waiting for Second Harvest of the Big Bend's last food distribution before Thanksgiving. Staff and volunteers handed out truckloads of fresh produce, staples and frozen turkeys.
The distribution site was Lively Technical College. Hours before the food distribution began, the line of vehicles extended from there along Appleyard Drive and out Tennessee Street to Pat Thomas Boulevard. Second Harvest Executive Director Monique Van Pelt had this response.
"We're overwhelmed. We're overwhelmed! We've seen a need that we've never measured before. We have to answer to a new level of call to action to serve the people of our community who have been impacted. And we take joy in that. Our team, our board, our volunteers take joy in the work that we're blessed to do."
Saturday's event had enough food for one-thousand households. But Van Pelt said more will be needed for other distributions between now and the end of the year. What Second Harvest needs most she added are volunteers to help and donations to buy more food.
