A Feast For All

Thanksgiving is a time to bring people to the table for good food and good conversation.

So people from all walks of life, young and older, are making a new Chattanooga tradition even better. It's called Unity In The Community, held in the same place where many of you go for festivals or Sunday afternoons for the Chattanooga Market.

Volunteer David Yantis said "I'm just helping out with my church, the church came down here to help out with the homeless."

Yantis was among about 700 volunteers who slathered on the hot gravy, scooped the dressing and served 1,794 meals. That's almost double what was served during last year's first Unity In The Community Thanksgiving feast.

George Woods enjoyed the feast and told us "Thanksgiving is supposed to be for everybody, supposed to bring everybody from all walks of life, all families together."

In years past The Salvation Army and Community Kitchen organized the biggest Thanksgiving Day dinners for the homeless. But they're together now under one roof, The First Tennessee Pavillion, along with churches and other community organizations.

Kimberly George with the Salvation Army said "this isn't just for the homeless, it's for families who are struggling or split families who didn't have their whole family here in town."

U.S. Representative Zach Wamp said "I mean every element of our society and culture is here today, the one's in the most need and the one's with the most."

In essence it's about sharing what we have and what we can do.

Mayor Ron Littlefield, who pledged to create a one-stop homeless center in downtown Chattanooga, said "it just shows that we're not only the most transformed city in America, we're one of the most compassionate in giving."

We found members of the social club Shadow Hunters sharing their compassion. One of them, Michelle Taylor, said "I'm so glad I had the opportunity to come here and help serve the homeless, it's so nice."

Besides sharing food volunteers share time at the table to make everyone feel welcome.

Unity in the Community is going beyond just filling some empty bellies as they are also filling backpacks with clothes for children and people who are homeless. There were plenty of sizes to go around for the clothes that offer what may be the only protection from the cold.

So this year's Unity In The Community Thanksgiving Day feast is a big success, proving there's strength in numbers.

"Together we do a better job," Mayor Littlefield said.

 Unity In The Community isn't just about Thursday's feast. It's a program that brings volunteers into the city's most challenged neighborhoods, helping people with work around their homes and yards, on the second Saturday of every month.

To find out more, go to this website: www.CSArmy.org