GOOCHLAND COUNTY, Va. — Volunteers braved the cold at Gum Springs United Methodist Church in Goochland to hand out Thanksgiving meals and other supplies to families in need.
Over 250 meals, including turkeys and fixings, were provided by Performance Food Group and GoochlandCares.
"This is really great to be able to offer some food to people who really need it, especially during a time of Thanksgiving," Scott Barnewolt with PFG said. "It's something that PFG and my team do on a regular basis and we've been doing it for about 15 years."
"If you're in need, we can provide. We are distributing turkeys and all the fixings for a nice Thanksgiving dinner for next week," Dominic Alexander, with GoochlandCares, said.
While the Turkey Day donation has been an event in the county for several years Alexander says it's just a glimpse of what GoochlandCares does on a daily basis.
The Volunteer Engagement Coordinator says as many as 300 families a week are served by the organization's food pantry and 12 other services including a free clinic that does medical dental and mental healthcare we've got a close closet thrift store, critical home repair, sexual and domestic violence services financial assistance and medical transportation.
"A lot of the folks that we see on a weekly regular basis are here today," Alexander said. "I think people deserve to have food to eat, I think people deserve healthcare, and they deserve to be taken care of.
One mother and daughter who spoke with CBS 6 said they appreciated the kindness of strangers.
"I want to feel blessed, and I know the people that's going to eat it is going to feel blessed," Eulease Cyprus said. "That's a wonderful thing, you know, I'm glad to have them in my county."
In addition to food, volunteers handed out warm socks and the Goochland Pharmacy provided flu and COVID vaccines to those who would like them.
"It's just really heartwarming to know that, you know, we take part in kind of helping everybody," pharmacist DJ Johnson said.
"For me the 'why' is really to make sure that our neighbors in Goochland County have what they need to be successful, to thrive and to live lives of self-dignity and well-being.
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