City Mission preps to feed Findlay for Thanksgiving

FINDLAY — City Mission of Findlay is hosting its fourth annual Thanksgiving Meal on Nov. 27, Thanksgiving Day, from noon to 4 p.m. Those in need of a meal can drive to City Mission and other local churches and businesses and request however many meals they need this Thanksgiving. "We provide all the food and this year we've asked churches to open their doors to let their community come in and eat their Thanksgiving meal there, in case somebody didn't have a place," said Miriam Ibarra, food service manager for City Mission. This year, City Mission, Hufford Funeral Home, Gateway Church, Parkview Christian Church, St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, Basic Truth Church and Church of the Living God will all be serving meals to those who request one. City Mission and Hufford Funeral Home are drive-thru only; Parkview Christian Church and St. Andrew's United Methodist Church are dine-in only; and Gateway Church, Basic Truth Church and Church of the Living God offer both. "We'll have meals in our entryway that people can just come and pick up and then we'll also have tables and things like that set up down in the basement of North Main for people to sit and have a meal in the warmth," said Ed Grable, pastor for the North Main campus of Gateway Church. Last year, the event served 2,000 meals and this year their goal is to serve 3,500 meals in total. Grable said this year he expects to serve more, just as a church. "I can't remember the number that we served as a church, but it seems like the needs a lot more this year than it was last year. We're getting a lot of phone calls and last year we didn't," Grable said. Those picking up food can expect a traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey and all of the well-known sides. "We will be serving smoked turkey. We have a farmer that's going to be smoking all of our turkeys for us. He's going to be doing 175 turkeys for this meal," Ibarra said. "We will be having green bean casserole, homemade mac and cheese, stuffing, biscuits … mashed potatoes and gravy." To get a meal, you don't need to prove any qualifications, or even give your name. "Anyone can come and get a meal. There are no qualifications. You don't have to sign up ... you just can come in and say how many meals you need and that's what we'll we'll give you," Grable said. The event is focused on helping those who need it, which is why City Mission is calling on churches to help with the event. "The first year that we did it, there was a huge line outside our community window that probably for four hours … it did not dwindle down. We don't let our community come in and eat at the mission; that's just for our guests," Ibarra said. "Other churches need to open up, and we'll provide all the food. We have a commercial kitchen. We have enough staff of volunteers to do it, but I just want to make sure that people definitely have somewhere nice and warm to sit and not have to stand outside and wait for a hot Thanksgiving meal." Gateway Church heard of this need and started opening its basement last year to give people a warm spot to eat on Thanksgiving. "It developed last year. We partner with City Mission all year, every year, because they're one of our local partners … we offered the basement of North Main, and our senior pastor loved the idea, so he and his family come and they help serve and connect with the people that are eating," said Grable. Grable said for Gateway Church, it's important to provide that space where people can sit and connect with others on a day like Thanksgiving. "People don't realize how many people go hungry every day, let alone on a day where many of us gather with our families. There are a lot of people in our community that don't have family, don't get invited to a Thanksgiving," said Grable. "Maybe they're single, maybe they're shut-ins, maybe their family is not around here, and they don't have the money to travel … so this is their only way to really have a warm meal on Thanksgiving and maybe be around other people." City Mission is located at 510 W. Main Cross St., and Gateway Church is located at 620 N. Main St. Those interested in learning more about City Mission's Thanksgiving Meal can go to its Facebook page.