YORK, Pa. — Thanksgiving meals were flying out of the kitchen at LifePath Christian Ministries, as volunteers fed hundreds of people in need.
“It’s always been my thing to serve those who are unable to have a full meal for Thanksgiving," said Catie Wallace, who volunteered to serve meals on Thanksgiving.
On Thursday, a dozen volunteers gathered in downtown York to serve nearly 700 meals to people struggling with homelessness. Volunteers like Wallace worked in the kitchen for hours to prepare the food.
“We’ve been cutting the deserts and pies, and just getting it ready so everything goes smoothly for everybody," said Wallace.
“There’s a real desire to help the community, there’s a real desire to help their fellow man," said Patrick Ball, the interim CEO of LifePath Christian Ministries.
Ball said this is the most Thanksgiving meals the LifePath Christian Ministries' kitchen has ever given out. He said this reflects a growing trend of more people relying on food banks in York County.
“In August, we served around 9,000 meals, in September and October we served around 10,000 meals, and we’re on pace to serve 11,000 meals in November," said Ball. "We’re seeing a ten percent increase month-to-month, not year-to-year, but month-to-month.”
With each meal served, volunteers and organizers hope to give people in need a chance to celebrate Thanksgiving as a community.
“If they don’t have a family, we could be considered part of their family," said Wallace. "So, it’s just being able to show them it’s part of the holiday spirit, and that we are able to give what we need to give.”
