Usually, Opelousas Life Church members would be cooking a Thanksgiving meal for hundreds of people in the community who need one.
But the pandemic has forced a change in that tradition.
"This year, because of the pandemic, we're giving them a box with a turkey and everything they need to cook a Thanksgiving meal," Pastor Kerney Thomas said Sunday, as he and his parishoners spent the day handing out boxes to folks who needed them. "Many of them came and were a part of our worship service this morning, and they were able to leave with some food."
Thomas said this the third year that his church has fed the hungry on this holiday, with Evangelist Alison Dunbar Guillory leading the effort.
This year is different, but that's OK, because the people will still be fed, he said.
"When you stop and think about people being hungry and not having food to eat for Thanksgiving, to me that's not a way to celebrate Thanksgiving," Thomas said. "Some are not really aware that there are a lot of people who will go hungry on Thanksgiving, they won't have food at all. This is a way for them to have a full meal."
Thomas said the effort has been a joint a venture, with a lot of people working hard to make it happen for their neighbors in need.
