Evanston Recreation Center hosts free Thanksgiving meals
For 30 years, a group of volunteers dedicates part of their holiday to serving others.
Updated: 7:25 PM EST Nov 24, 2022
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STEVEN: WHETHER YOU ARE WAKING UP FROM YOUR TURKEY NAP. OR ABOUT TO SIT DOWN FOR DINNER. TODAY HAS BEEN STUFFED WITH WAYS TO GIVE THANKS AND GIVE BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED. WLWT NEWS 5’S MEREDITH STUTZ HAS THE VOLUNTEERS MAKING SURE EVERYONE HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN EVANSTON. MEREDITH: ON THIS THANKSGIVING DAY AT THE EVANSTON RECREATION CENTER, THERE ARE NO STRANGERS AROUND THE TABLE RATHER A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND TO KNOW THAT EVERY — AND THE FEELING THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE WORLD. >> HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYBODY OK? MEREDITH: IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A HEAPING SERVING OF THANKSGIVING GOODNESS, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN 75-YEAR-OLD MARLENE TRAVIS. >> BANANA PUDDING COMING UP. MEREDITH: SHE’S SERVED FREE THANKSGIVING MEALS IN EVANSTON FOR YEARS. INCLUDING FOR MORRIS DUFFEY AND HIS TABLE >> MY SISTER. MY BROTHER IN LAW AND A NEIGHBOR. MEREDITH: PHARMACIST TRAVIS AS — FOR MRS TRAVIS, AS SHE GOES BY, PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE FOR FOLKS TO SHARE A MEAL IS AN HONOR. >> WELL, I’M HAPPY. THAT’S MY THING. AND IT’S ABOUT THE PEOPLE. AND JUST KNOWING THAT I’M ABLE TO GET OUT HERE ON A GOOD DAY. SOMETIMES MY KNEES ARE LEFT. — ARE ACTING UP. SOME DAYS I’M NOT FEELING IT. BUT THE GOOD DAYS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT AND MAKE IT WORTH SOMETHING. MEREDITH: FOR 30 YEARS DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS WITH CINCINNATI RECREATION CENTER AND AGAPE MINISTRY DONATE PART OF THEIR THANKSGIVINGS TO SERVE THE HOMELESS, SENIORS AND FAMILIES. THERE’S ENOUGH TURKEY AND ALL THE FIXINGS FOR 150 PEOPLE. WITH EACH BITE, ANNIE REFLECTS ON HER BLESSINGS. >> I AM THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE. I’M 81 AND I’M THANKFUL. MEREDITH: NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT MRS. TRAVIS SAYS WITH EVERY BITE, SHE WANTS GUESTS TO KNOW THEY’RE NOT ALONE. >> WELL, I’M HOPING THAT THEY’LL WALK AWAY BEING HAPPY IF SOMEBODY THINKS ABOUT ON THANKSGIVING. AND TO ME, THANKSGIVING IS EVERY DAY. IT’S NOT JUST ONE DAY. MEREDITH: REPORTING AND EVANSTON, MEREDITH STUTZ WLWT NEWS 5. STEVEN: WE HOPE THEY ENJOY THEIR MEAL. IN ADDITION TO HOT MEALS, THE EVENT ALSO GAVE OUT FREE HATS, GLOVES AND CLOTHES TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM. >> READY, SET, STEVEN: GOOD FOR ALL THESE FOLKS WHO GOT UP AND DID THIS, I COULD NOT BE ME. HUNDREDS OF RUNNERS DID THEIR CARB-LOADING IN REVERSE THIS THANKSGIVING. THE 113TH ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DAY RACE TOOK OFF FROM PAYCOR STADIUM THIS MORNING. RUNNERS MADE THEIR WAY THROUGH DOWNTOWN, OVER-THE-RHINE NEWPORT AND COVINGTON. WE SPOKE TO A FAMILY WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING THE RACE TOGETHER FOR ABOUT A DECADE. >> IT IS SUCH A GOOD WAY TO GET THE FAMILY TOGETHER. AND JUST DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES THE KIDS BE ACTIVE AND GETS UP EARLY IN THE MORNING AND GETS THE BLOOD MOVING BEFORE YOU EAT A BUNCH OF TURKEY AND SIT. AROUND ALL DAYS. . STEVEN: THAT WOMAN TOLD US SHE AND HER HUSBAND RUN MARATHONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT THE THANKSGIVING DAY RACE IS A NICE LOCAL ONE TO GET THE KIDS INVOLVED, EVEN IF THEY DIDN’T WANT TO WEAR TUR
Evanston Recreation Center hosts free Thanksgiving meals
For 30 years, a group of volunteers dedicates part of their holiday to serving others.
Updated: 7:25 PM EST Nov 24, 2022
On Thanksgiving morning, a line formed inside Evanston Recreation Center.People of all ages gathered for a free Thanksgiving meal. All the fixings were heaped onto places and served with smiles by volunteers. The donated meals are a result between Apage Ministry, Cincinnati Recreation Center and sponsors. Donations were assembled and prepared to serve 150 people inside the recreation center. Around the tables sat friends, neighbors, seniors, those experiencing homelessness and those in need of company on a holiday. Groups of people found themselves bonding over meaningful conversations and bites of stuffing. Among the dozens of volunteers is Marlene Travis. Travis, 75, has served meals on Thanksgiving for years and says it’s an honor to create a safe space for people to enjoy a meal together. She told WLWT she wants people to walk away with more than a full stomach.”Well, I’m hoping that they’ll walk away being happy if somebody thinks about them on Thanksgiving,” Travis said. “And to me, Thanksgiving is every day. It’s not just one day.”
CINCINNATI —
On Thanksgiving morning, a line formed inside Evanston Recreation Center.
People of all ages gathered for a free Thanksgiving meal. All the fixings were heaped onto places and served with smiles by volunteers. The donated meals are a result between Apage Ministry, Cincinnati Recreation Center and sponsors.
Donations were assembled and prepared to serve 150 people inside the recreation center. Around the tables sat friends, neighbors, seniors, those experiencing homelessness and those in need of company on a holiday. Groups of people found themselves bonding over meaningful conversations and bites of stuffing.
Among the dozens of volunteers is Marlene Travis. Travis, 75, has served meals on Thanksgiving for years and says it’s an honor to create a safe space for people to enjoy a meal together. She told WLWT she wants people to walk away with more than a full stomach.
“Well, I’m hoping that they’ll walk away being happy if somebody thinks about them on Thanksgiving,” Travis said. “And to me, Thanksgiving is every day. It’s not just one day.”
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