Community gathers to feed the homeless for Thanksgiving

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FAMILY MATTERS: Volunteering their time at the Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless this past Sunday were (l-r) Barbara D’Arezzo, Ed Brady, Mayor Allan Fung and his wife, Barbara Ann Fenton

SERVING THOSE IN NEED: Pictured are the many volunteers at Sunday’s Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless at Praise Tabernacle Church.

LOOKING GOOD: Many barbers and hair stylists volunteered their time to provide free haircuts to the homeless at the Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless this past Sunday. There were more than 50 haircuts done within a few hours.

Last Sunday, Nov. 19, a special Thanksgiving Dinner for the homeless was held at Praise Tabernacle Church at 330 Park Ave. in Cranston. Homeless guests of all ages enjoyed a full turkey dinner with all the fixings and desserts. Free haircuts were provided by Details Barber Shop and additional volunteers with musical entertainment, clothes and personal products provided by Mae Organization for the Homeless.

“Our culinary team from The Thirsty Beaver, Milk Money, 4corners Coffee and Pink Pig BBQ enjoyed prepared food for our 8th annual Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless at Praise Tabernacle Church with The Rhode Island Dream Center,” said Ed Brady, co-owner of the participating restaurant.

Volunteers spent time organizing the event, setting up for the big day, driving the buses and picking the homeless up in Kennedy Plaza in Providence and then dropping them back off where they are staying, cooking all the Thanksgiving meals, serving them, greeting them and cleaning after the event was completed.

“We prepared food for over 300 people, which put a lot of smiles on faces and that makes us smile,” said Brady. “We take pride in ‘making a living out of giving’ at our restaurants and we are very thankful and appreciative for our friends from The District, Claflin, Ciros Tavern, The Dorrance, Adelines, Freeway Carwash and Laundry, Campanellas, Jimmy Burchfield Law, Mayor Allan Fung, The Nutrition Station, Anytime Realty and Homepoint Financial, among others, for donating to make a difference this holiday season. Adam Deciccio and his organization Veterans Inc. also co-sponsored food for the event.”

“The Mae Organization is always grateful for the opportunity to serve the homeless,” said Christina Roberts, Director of Outreach. Roberts led team of volunteers who distributed clothing and personal items for the homeless in attendance.

People can get involved and donate to the Rhode Island Dream Center at Praise Tabernacle Church who goes out and feeds the Homeless nightly by visiting www.RIDreamCenter.org.