OKLAHOMA CITY –<\/p>\n
As cars line up in the parking lot at Bethlehem Star Baptist Church, members inside prepare for a night of giving. It\u2019s not your typical church service, as church members convert nearly every room of the church into a grocery warehouse.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreen beans, corn, sweet peas, broth, cake, icing, mustard. You want me to continue? Jelly,\u201d said giveaway coordinator Keith Dixon.<\/p>\n
Providing everything a family will need for Thanksgiving dinner and beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also provide a turkey, chicken, bacon, bologna,\u201d said Dixon.<\/p>\n
All for church and community families that signed up to receive, some as early as September.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have a qualifying program. We believe if you need help, you simply ask,\u201d said Rodney Payne, Pastor of Bethlehem Star Baptist Church.<\/p>\n
No one is really sure how long the church has been doing this, but what started out for 10 families years ago has grown.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year we are scheduled to give away one hundred and five, simply for Thanksgiving only,\u201d said Payne.<\/p>\n
Volunteers navigate the halls of the church, sorting and separating groceries to help each family to have a happy Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve had people cry and didn\u2019t know that they were getting as much as they were and it\u2019s a great feeling to see these people really appreciate what is given to them,\u201d said Dixon.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can take that one thing away from you, where you don\u2019t have to worry about having a great holiday meal, to make memories with your family, we want to do it,\u201d said Payne.<\/p>\n