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Light of Light Mission Fills Thanksgiving Baskets For Those In Need

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - It is still three days until Thanksgiving and nearly 100 people got together this morning to assemble gift baskets of food.

They will be passed out in the north side communities.

For more than 60 years, the Light of Light Mission has helped Pittsburghers and that mission doesn't take a break for the holiday.

In fact, it's busier than ever.

"I ended up being blessed, just by all the people, volunteers, seeing how it worked. You saw it. It was a well-oiled machine, the baskets were made and they are ready to go," Don Antczak of Northway Christian Community said.

Thanksgiving baskets will be hand-delivered to families identified through 10 local non-profits. Churches and private donors have given 15-pound turkeys, instant mashed potatoes and a whole more.

"There's a lot of food, but there's a lot of love too because not only did we pack them, but other people have given them and someone is coming to get them and when the churches gave them, they didn't just have a show of hands and say, 'Who needs a basket?' There was a time of prayer when they said, 'Who does God want to have these baskets?'" Karen Fitting said.

It's not a matter of getting the work done now so they can be closed for Thanksgiving.

"It just lets them know that there is a community that is here that is here to love them and support them and as a faith-based organization, we want them to see the love of Christ through us today," Sara VanKirk of the Urban Impact Foundation said.

They worked all morning to fill 260 laundry baskets with enough food to feed 260 families of four on Thanksgiving, which means at least a 1,000 people will not have to worry about where the food is coming from for at least one day.

"It didn't feel like work. It felt more like fellowship, so that's what we love because it's the spirit of the holiday that we want to pass on to those who are in need and that's the whole purpose of it," Minister Dorothy Stubbs said.

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