Kiwanis Club of Northwest Washington, D.C. Provides Thanksgiving Meals to Less Fortunate

by Catherine Kister

Thanksgiving Day commemorates the autumn harvest feast shared between the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians in 1621. On this day, people express gratitude for their blessings and give thanks to dear ones for their love and support. In many American households, the Thanksgiving celebration centers on cooking and sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends. As such, the Kiwanis Club of Northwest Washington, D.C. sought to provide turkeys, a Thanksgiving staple synonymous with the holiday, to those less fortunate.

The Kiwanis Club of Northwest Washington, D.C. donated 128 turkeys to those in need in November 2011. Club members met at 6:00 am to pick up the turkeys at the Greenbelt Giant and distributed the turkeys to families throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Recipients of the turkeys included low-income senior citizens in the Washington Metro Area, families in need identified by our Club members, and patients of the Dialysis Center. Also, Mother Dear, an organization that provides outreach services to the Washington metropolitan and surrounding areas by providing food, clothing, emergency assistance and other services to the poor, needy, homeless and other constituents, were given turkeys as well. Mother Dear included the turkeys in food baskets that were delivered to families. In addition, turkeys were delivered to the Mamie D. Lee School, a school providing high quality education and services to students with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Turkeys were given to several students' families. The Sharpe Health School, a school that serves the academic needs of students aged 3 through 21 with special needs, also received turkeys that were distributed to the families of students.

For the Kiwanis Club of Northwest Washington, D.C. giving to those in need is an integral part of the Thanksgiving Day celebrations and we give thanks for being able to help.