The Salvation Army is asking the community to volunteer for their First Annual Community Meal.
The Salvation Army normally serves a Thanksgiving lunch at their kitchen on 16th street, but they’ve outgrown the space. Kaitlyn Fredericks, community relations director for the Salvation Army, said they had more than 450 people at last year’s gathering. Normally their kitchen fits up to 70 people.
With a bigger celebration, comes more responsibility so they need even more volunteers for this year’s event, held at the Lubbock Civic Center.
“What we wanted to do with this community style meal is not only inviting those who didn’t have a place to go or didn’t have the money for food,” Fredericks said. “But also those that just needed somebody to talk to. A table to sit around with those that are willing to have good conversation as well as good food. So even if you just want to come and conversate[sic] with the people that are here we would really appreciate that.”
There are two shifts for lunch, 9:30 am to 1 pm and noon to 3 pm. Fredericks said they need almost 50 more volunteers for the late shift.
Volunteers can be young,old and everything in between. Fredericks said this is one woman’s 16th year to volunteer and a church is bringing a group of 30 volunteers.
“My favorite call that I’ve gotten so far was a gentleman who was originally from Florida,” Fredericks said. “He called and said ‘Hey, I’d like to volunteer,’ I said ‘What times?’ and he said ‘As long as I can, I spent 6 years in a homeless shelter in Fort Lauderdale, in a homeless program and I’ve been able to get back on my feet and now I am ready to give back.'”
Lunch is served from 11 am to 2 pm.
