Charity organizations provide free meals for Thanksgiving

For organizations like Helping Hands Generation or the Salvation Army, giving back to the community comes from a place of love.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Families across the country gathered around the table Thursday, to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal together. For those without a place to go though, charity organizations stepped in to lend a helping hand.

Since 2016, owner of Helping Hands Generation, Amber Cearnal, has provided food and necessities on holidays to people in Macon.

“Basically just want to give back to the community and not just feed the homeless, but anybody and everybody is welcome,” said Cearnal.

For Cearnal and others like her, generosity comes from a place of love.

Laverne Lattimore, also known as “Miss V”, is a supervisor for the Salvation Army. For decades, the organization has served free, hot meals to those who walk through its doors.

“It’s my passion in serving food and serving the community,” Lattimore said. “The people that we serve, sometimes this be the only meal that they have. And it makes me teary up because I understand how it is for someone to have nothing to eat.”

According to Sergeant Austin Sturdivant, the Salvation Army’s mission is to help people in need. On a day like Thanksgiving,he considers the community to be a part of his family.

“We have this Thanksgiving dinner so that people can have that opportunity to come and share. Break bread over across the table with other people from their community,” said Sturdivant.

People like Robert Dowd, who visited the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving luncheon to get a meal for himself and his wife.

“Y’all make sure y’all come over and tell these people thank you for everything y’all do for Macon and middle Georgia,” Dowd said. “And I wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving.”

If you are in need of a meal, head to the Salvation Army Macon Corps located at 1955 Broadway in Macon, any day of the year from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

If you would like to contact Helping Hands Generation to volunteer or for assistance, call Amber Cearnal at (478) 960-2740.