Through police and community, thousands are fed on Thanksgiving

Through several local efforts, thousands were able to enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal. Whether it was community centers putting their best foot forward or police officers going door to door, many people weren’t hungry on Thursday.For nearly three decades, Pittsburgh police officers like Darrick Payton have been knocking on doors to start their Thanksgiving.“I’m in my 11th year,” Payton said. “I’ve been giving them out for 11 years. In this season, there’s more people in need than we think.”Payton’s Zone 1 station handed out 660 meals Thursday morning to people in homes, high-rises and apartments.“It’s awesome,” the officer from Zone 1 said. “It really brings home about why we’re here, what we’re doing and why it matters.” A total of 5,600 boxes filled with turkey, stuffing and a Smiley Cookie were handed out across Pittsburgh Public Safety’s six zones.Father Patrick Carpenter, of St. Mary Orthodox Church, helped put the boxes together.“St. Mary’s Orthodox Church has been involved for the last 20 years. For the last two years, it’s had to be outside of the church because the numbers have grown so great,” Carpenter said. “Neighbors came together for four days. Volunteers were down at Heinz Hall making the food. Today, it’s all being distributed. Thank God.”Carpenter told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that he’s thankful to be able to not just provide the meals, but shine a light on the men and women who deliver them. “We think of the police, often times, as those solving crimes,” he said. “Today, we see them in their proper roles as blue angels who are there to help everyone. Love is abundant throughout the whole program. It’s a very joyful event. At the end of the day, everyone is tired and happy that we’ve touched our neighbors.”At the Promise Center in Homewood, getting meals out the door starts early. “We already sent out over 600 meals before 11 o’clock,” said Nate Goodson, the center’s executive director. “This is my fourth Thanksgiving feeding the community and feeding the seniors. We prepare the food. We pack it and take it. It’s family oriented. It’s a family program. Everybody just comes, mingles and talks.”Some people, like Mashkur, prefer having some fellowship with their meal. “I’ve been coming for the last three years,” he said. “I’m thankful to be able to be here with people. Every year, I can’t put a number on it, there are hundreds of people who come here and benefit from this institution right here. It’s the children all the way to the elders.” The food, conversations and effort all make for a lot of gratitude on the fourth Thursday in November. “That’s probably one of the best things we can learn from this,” Mashkur said. The ability to serve the people.”“That’s what I’m thankful for,” Goodson said. “Just to put smiles on people’s faces.”

PITTSBURGH —

Through several local efforts, thousands were able to enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal. Whether it was community centers putting their best foot forward or police officers going door to door, many people weren’t hungry on Thursday.

For nearly three decades, Pittsburgh police officers like Darrick Payton have been knocking on doors to start their Thanksgiving.

“I’m in my 11th year,” Payton said. “I’ve been giving them out for 11 years. In this season, there’s more people in need than we think.”

Payton’s Zone 1 station handed out 660 meals Thursday morning to people in homes, high-rises and apartments.

“It’s awesome,” the officer from Zone 1 said. “It really brings home about why we’re here, what we’re doing and why it matters.”

A total of 5,600 boxes filled with turkey, stuffing and a Smiley Cookie were handed out across Pittsburgh Public Safety’s six zones.

Father Patrick Carpenter, of St. Mary Orthodox Church, helped put the boxes together.

“St. Mary’s Orthodox Church has been involved for the last 20 years. For the last two years, it’s had to be outside of the church because the numbers have grown so great,” Carpenter said. “Neighbors came together for four days. Volunteers were down at Heinz Hall making the food. Today, it’s all being distributed. Thank God.”

Carpenter told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that he’s thankful to be able to not just provide the meals, but shine a light on the men and women who deliver them.

“We think of the police, often times, as those solving crimes,” he said. “Today, we see them in their proper roles as blue angels who are there to help everyone. Love is abundant throughout the whole program. It’s a very joyful event. At the end of the day, everyone is tired and happy that we’ve touched our neighbors.”

At the Promise Center in Homewood, getting meals out the door starts early.

“We already sent out over 600 meals before 11 o’clock,” said Nate Goodson, the center’s executive director. “This is my fourth Thanksgiving feeding the community and feeding the seniors. We prepare the food. We pack it and take it. It’s family oriented. It’s a family program. Everybody just comes, mingles and talks.”

Some people, like Mashkur, prefer having some fellowship with their meal.

“I’ve been coming for the last three years,” he said. “I’m thankful to be able to be here with people. Every year, I can’t put a number on it, there are hundreds of people who come here and benefit from this institution right here. It’s the children all the way to the elders.”

The food, conversations and effort all make for a lot of gratitude on the fourth Thursday in November.

“That’s probably one of the best things we can learn from this,” Mashkur said. The ability to serve the people.”

“That’s what I’m thankful for,” Goodson said. “Just to put smiles on people’s faces.”