By Staff
FOOD BASKETS Nell Grissom, executive director of Wesley House Community Center, helps staff members, from left, Johnny McClellan, Rush Gordon and Fred Lewis prepare Thanksgiving baskets for 250 local families. Photo by Sharon White/The Meridian Star
By Sharon White/The Meridian Star
More than 250 area families will enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings this year with a little help from Wesley House Community Center.
That help comes in the form of baskets with enough food not only for a Thanksgiving meal, but also enough to make meals throughout the holiday weekend.
As with baskets distributed each year in the week before Christmas, Wesley House officials screen clients using federal guidelines requiring that families fall below a certain income level to qualify.
Wesley House staff and volunteers have been preparing for distribution for the two weeks. Clients have been picking up baskets this week, with the last of them expected to go out by late this evening.
As in years past, Wesley House Community Center will help more than 5,000 people with Christmas gifts, food and toys. In addition, Wesley workers also match needy children with people willing to buy them presents in eight East Mississippi counties.
The deadline for Christmas assistance has passed, but Wesley will hold a emergency make-up day on Dec. 4-7 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Applicants are asked to bring proof of income, current receipts for rent or mortgage and utility bills.
Wesley House Community Center is located at 1520 Eighth Ave. For more information, contact Nell Grissom at 485-4736.
Sharon White is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at swhite@meridianstar.com.