Cemal Richards sped around River City Church in Vancouver on a cold, cloudy Thanksgiving morning, bringing warm food boxes to the automobiles that were waiting in the parking area. There was no other place he would have preferred to spend the holiday, as evidenced by his beaming smile.
“Being here is a big deal,” Richards remarked. Many people are deprived of the chance to assist others. Additionally, the one act you do for someone could be what keeps them going for the remainder of the holiday.
Hundreds of individuals drove into the church parking lot or went through the doors between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. A homemade tamale lunch consisting of rice, beans, chips, salsa, and pumpkin empanadas was served to each new arrival.
Melody Finn, director of operations at River City Church, described the Fourth Plain corridor as an international district in Vancouver. The diverse population of the area is reflected in this year’s meal.
According to Finn, we made the decision to create something distinctive and out of the ordinary. Additionally, tamales appear to be unique. They’re not something you order every day.
About fifty volunteers, including Richards, who grew up in Oakland and became passionate about assisting others, are essential to the event.
According to him, my family banded together to distribute toiletry bags to the homeless. We used to visit the sizable homeless encampment in Stockton and downtown Oakland. They were ecstatic and all that as we went around chatting to individuals and handing out toiletry items.
Richards knew it was an event he wanted to repeat when he relocated to Vancouver. He said that River City Church’s Thanksgiving meal program was the ideal way to give back to the community.
Cemal Richards serves food to patrons in the parking lot of River City Church.Profenna Chiara
When it first opened five years ago, the church hosted Thanksgiving dinners while another organization supplied the food, starting a tradition. To address what it perceived to be an increasing need, the church started the event itself around three years ago.
According to Finn, we discovered that there weren’t many Thanksgiving Day dinners available in Vancouver, and that’s when the demand is highest because individuals don’t have anywhere to go.
Since then, it has only gotten larger every year. After nearly running out of food, organizers decided to increase the amount of dinners to 600 from just 400 the previous year.
Families and individuals were already crowded into the dining area an hour into the service.
A family eats together in the dining room of River City Church while occupied with the complimentary coloring pages that are available.Profenna Chiara
Alicia Sizemore, Carol Watson, and Heather Madewell were seated at one of the long tables. They expressed gratitude for the chance to celebrate the holiday with others, just like many other guests.
“I was homeless not long ago,” Watson remarked. I was homeless on these streets, but I’m now in recovery at the Samaritan House. Thus, coming here is truly a blessing. It was all so wonderful.
Sizemore, a program coordinator for New Life Recovery Services, has worked with the church on many occasions as a community partner. Attending as a guest, she said seeing volunteers come together to help people struggling with homelessness, addiction and depression underscored the power of community.
They say that the opposite of addiction is connection, Sizemore said. I m grateful to be in long-term recovery, and I am grateful that there are people that are still willing to help others that are out there. I m grateful to have a family.
Madewll echoed Sizemore s sentiments.
I m grateful for my housing right now, Madewell said. I m grateful for my health and my recovery. I m grateful that my God is a faithful God.
Church volunteers passed through the dining area, bringing food and drinks to each guest and taking the time to have a conversation with everyone they served. Treating people with dignity and respect was at the heart of the service, Finn said.
There s a lot of houseless that don t have a place, Finn said. They love being able to come in and be served and doted on a little bit, if that makes any sense. It s just a beautiful time of the community coming together and blessing those that are underserved.
Heather Madewell, Carol Watson and Alicia Sizemore (from left to right) share a joyful Thanksgiving Day together.Chiara Profenna
With many more service events planned for the future of River City Church, Finn said she was grateful for the opportunity to build community and share her faith with others on the Thanksgiving holiday.
I don t know if I have any particular hopes, Finn said, other than that we just continue to be a bright spot on the Fourth Plain corridor.
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Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327;[email protected]@chiara-profennaon BlueSky.
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