TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – An annual tradition in the Tallahassee community saw hundreds of people receive a free Thanksgiving meal at the Salvation Army on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
People were lined up before the doors opened at 11 a.m., and everyone was welcome.<\/p>\n
The event was a full-service dinner, so once people came in, they were shown to their seats and didn\u2019t have to get up again until they were ready to leave. <\/p>\n
Volunteer students from North Florida Christian and Florida High were at the event serving guests. <\/p>\n
Guests had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, green beans, mac and cheese and several other side dishes. <\/p>\n
Joy Rowan, who has been coming to the dinner for three years, said there\u2019s plenty to be grateful for.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m thankful that I was 86 yesterday,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m glad I made 86 yesterday, and I\u2019m going to make it on further.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rowan makes sure not to come to the Salvation Army alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like bringing friends, oh yeah. I find my friends, and I bring them,\u201d Rowan said. \u201cI just think it\u2019s wonderful we just come and be together and just thank the Lord and eat and have a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gale Montgomery came with Rowan, and it was her first time enjoying the meal.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust to meet people and see the smiles and just being around people, and being around people is such a good thing because you learn a lot and you see a lot,” Montgomery said.<\/p>\n
She said people aren\u2019t just filling their stomachs when they leave this community dinner.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I see so many people, it doesn\u2019t matter about \u2018Did they come to eat?\u2019 They came to feed their soul,” she said.<\/p>\n
Another guest, Jermaine Miller, comes to the dinner to make sure other people have some good company.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to network with people and try to make sure people don\u2019t feel left alone. Some people don\u2019t have a place to go to. Some people don\u2019t have a place to go out of town or have their family members,” Miller said.<\/p>\n
He said the Salvation Army\u2019s annual dinner is all about unity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what color you are, where you come from, how much money you have. It\u2019s about getting to know one another, being friends with everybody, and love one another, like my mama taught me,” he said.<\/p>\n
The Salvation Army said food insecurity is higher than usual this year, so they made sure to prepare a larger amount of food than last year.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, they served more than 400 people this Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n
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