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Now in its 26th year, Tallahassee's Project Annie makes Thanksgiving dinner for the multitudes

An elderly Black woman, seated at a desk, wearing a black sweater over a red-and-white blouse
Margie Menzel
/
WFSU
Annie Johnson began her community Thanksgiving dinners in 1998

It’s been 26 years since Annie Johnson launched a Thanksgiving dinner in Tallahassee’s Frenchtown neighborhood. It’s called Project Annie, and all are welcome. Johnson says last year the feast drew 2,000 people.

Project Annie happens in a small building on West 4th Avenue. It’s not big enough for the cooking and certainly not for the eating -- that will take place in tents outside.

“I asked the Lord for this building, and he told me to wait," Johnson says. "But what I wanted it for was a dance club. So, when He let me have the building, He told me, ‘I want you to feed my peoples.’ And that’s how I got into feeding the people.”

The donations are committed, from big companies to individuals. She’s got enough volunteers. She’s been at this a long time.

“I don’t want to stop," she laughs. "I have peoples that helps me. [WFSU: A LOT of people.] Yes. Yes. Yes.”

Johnson has a list of what’s still needed: mashed potatoes, grated cheese, fresh tomatoes, onions, lettuce, eggs, canned soda and aluminum pans. She has no doubt it will all arrive.

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11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28
625 W. 4th Avenue
(850) 222-6133

Follow @MargieMenzel

Margie Menzel covers local and state government for WFSU News. She has also worked at the News Service of Florida and Gannett News Service. She earned her B.A. in history at Vanderbilt University and her M.S. in journalism at Florida A&M University.