Light Of Life Rescue Mission Provides Thanksgiving Meals To Those In Need
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - On this holiday where we give thanks, the Light of Life Rescue Mission worked today to make sure no one was going hungry. They held their annual Thanksgiving meal for people in the community.
About 50 volunteers spent their holiday helping those who may need a helping hand.
"People need to eat. We are very grateful to have the opportunity to stay open," Light if Life Volunteer Manager Jenny Deatrich said.
The Light of Life Rescue Mission on the North Side continued their decades-long tradition of feeding the community. In addition, they passed out winter hygiene kits with hats and gloves.
In this year of the pandemic, canceling wasn't an option.
"What mattered to us was if we don't open today, if we don't provide thanksgiving dinner meals to those in need, they might have a thanksgiving. They might not have a meal to eat," Light of Life Director of Development Doug Jones said.
For months, they have been working to figure out how they can serve their 900 meals and make deliveries to nine local high-rise buildings.
"I'm grateful honestly. I'm grateful that we can do it," Deatrich said.
To keep everyone safe it meant reducing the number of volunteers, offering to go meals and having the tables be socially distant under their tent outside.
"We've been preparing for weeks and we are prepared to make sure everyone stays safe and gets a great meal on their Thanksgiving," Smith told KDKA.
At the end of the day, Light of Life wants to make sure everyone is able to feel loved and the warmth of the holiday season.
"We always say hope begins with a meal and our hope is every man woman and child that comes to us today will receive the hope they need on thanksgiving with a meal," Smith said.
Now Light of Life has been having Thanksgiving dinners at their North Side location for decades, but that changes next year when they open their new facility, not too far down the road, on the North Shore.
