While there is much to be thankful for around Oak Ridge Baptist Church these days, one of the most exciting partnerships for which we are grateful is the one that exists between Stone Grove Community Center and ORBC. Recently, members of the church volunteered alongside Candice Lespinaese-- a community member with a heart of gold--and her family and friends. For the past three years, Candice and her family have cooked and served a Thanksgiving feast for Stone Grove Community, a low-income housing community in Salisbury.
This year, the 4th year in which Candice and her family members-- including her husband, grandmother, daughters, cousins, and aunts-- were preparing for the event, Candice found some additional volunteers through Laurie Riley, of ORBC.
"It all started at Halloween when I met Candice," said Laurie, who coordinated ORBC's end of the partnership for this year's dinner. After meeting Candice at a Halloween event at Stone Grove, and learning of the monumental undertaking that she and her loved ones have faithfully been committing to pulling off each year, Laurie wanted to allow ORBC volunteers to come alongside the Lespinaese family to partner "hand in hand, side by side."
Laurie explained that she envisioned ORBC stepping in to help, not swooping in to take over. She recognized that Candice and her family had been lovingly serving Thanksgiving dinner to the people of Stone Grove for years, and she hoped that bringing in additional volunteers would enhance Candice's ministry while still honoring Candice and her family as the founders of the tradition, allowing them to guide ORBC's efforts. Between Candice and her contacts and ORBC's members, over two dozen volunteers came together to either cook dishes, serve food, or both. One of Candice's cousins even brought her sorority sisters along for the fun, so this was truly a multifaceted partnership. The extra help from ORBC allowed Candice and her original troupe of volunteers the opportunity to connect with the guests they have so faithfully served on a deeper level. "This was the first time they were actually able to talk to the people," noted Laurie, who explained that in the past, Candice and company had been so busy serving the guests that they had had little time to converse with them. Such an opportunity was especially cherished by Candice's grandmother, who according to Laurie, "comes from out of town every year to participate in this joyous event."
Together, the volunteers fed an estimated 120 to 150 people on-site, and prepared approximately twenty additional take-out plates that went out to residents who were unable to physically walk over to the Community Center where the feast was held.
"We fed everyone, and everyone had a good time," said Laurie, who explained that "this was probably going to be the only Thanksgiving that they were going to have." Because food stamps aren't issued until December, and because the food bank distribution doesn't occur until the end of the month, Thanksgiving dinner, which falls just before those crucial dates, might not be a reality for many of the folks who are struggling financially within the community.
Thanks to Candice, Laurie, and all the others who showed up to show love, this grim scenario was avoided. Those in attendance were treated to many delectable dishes, including ham, sweet potatoes, pies, and "rolls, rolls, and more rolls," laughs Laurie. The main course, of course, was turkey. Two were donated by Laurie and her husband and smoked by Arron Moore (who also smoked additional birds for another Thanksgiving event held at ORBC's The Landing). Two more turkeys were donated by Candice, and those were prepared by yet another volunteer who "donated time and energy to cooking them." Laurie reported, "We had no leftover turkey at all."
While the dinner was scheduled to end at 4:30, volunteers happily kept the doors open an hour later, recognizing how important it was to give everyone a taste of Thanksgiving. Candice, Laurie, and crew stayed hours afterwards for clean-up.
"You need to volunteer, you need to give back to the people," Laurie noted, when asked what she and Candice have in common in thinking about community service. "We've been blessed, we need to give back."
Next month, plans are in the works to partner with Candice and company once again to provide a Christmas dinner for Stone Grove residents. To find out more, email Laurie at rileysroost1102@gmail.com. Volunteers are also needed to host a version of Santa's Wonderland on site at the Stone Grove Community Center. This initiative is in addition to ORBC's Santa's Wonderland held annually on campus--while the traditional event has attracted nearly enough members to meet all anticipated needs, there are still ample opportunities to serve in similar capacities at Stone Grove. Email Jim Kaylor for details, jim.kaylor@perdue.com.
This year, the 4th year in which Candice and her family members-- including her husband, grandmother, daughters, cousins, and aunts-- were preparing for the event, Candice found some additional volunteers through Laurie Riley, of ORBC.
"It all started at Halloween when I met Candice," said Laurie, who coordinated ORBC's end of the partnership for this year's dinner. After meeting Candice at a Halloween event at Stone Grove, and learning of the monumental undertaking that she and her loved ones have faithfully been committing to pulling off each year, Laurie wanted to allow ORBC volunteers to come alongside the Lespinaese family to partner "hand in hand, side by side."
Laurie explained that she envisioned ORBC stepping in to help, not swooping in to take over. She recognized that Candice and her family had been lovingly serving Thanksgiving dinner to the people of Stone Grove for years, and she hoped that bringing in additional volunteers would enhance Candice's ministry while still honoring Candice and her family as the founders of the tradition, allowing them to guide ORBC's efforts. Between Candice and her contacts and ORBC's members, over two dozen volunteers came together to either cook dishes, serve food, or both. One of Candice's cousins even brought her sorority sisters along for the fun, so this was truly a multifaceted partnership. The extra help from ORBC allowed Candice and her original troupe of volunteers the opportunity to connect with the guests they have so faithfully served on a deeper level. "This was the first time they were actually able to talk to the people," noted Laurie, who explained that in the past, Candice and company had been so busy serving the guests that they had had little time to converse with them. Such an opportunity was especially cherished by Candice's grandmother, who according to Laurie, "comes from out of town every year to participate in this joyous event."
Together, the volunteers fed an estimated 120 to 150 people on-site, and prepared approximately twenty additional take-out plates that went out to residents who were unable to physically walk over to the Community Center where the feast was held.
"We fed everyone, and everyone had a good time," said Laurie, who explained that "this was probably going to be the only Thanksgiving that they were going to have." Because food stamps aren't issued until December, and because the food bank distribution doesn't occur until the end of the month, Thanksgiving dinner, which falls just before those crucial dates, might not be a reality for many of the folks who are struggling financially within the community.
Thanks to Candice, Laurie, and all the others who showed up to show love, this grim scenario was avoided. Those in attendance were treated to many delectable dishes, including ham, sweet potatoes, pies, and "rolls, rolls, and more rolls," laughs Laurie. The main course, of course, was turkey. Two were donated by Laurie and her husband and smoked by Arron Moore (who also smoked additional birds for another Thanksgiving event held at ORBC's The Landing). Two more turkeys were donated by Candice, and those were prepared by yet another volunteer who "donated time and energy to cooking them." Laurie reported, "We had no leftover turkey at all."
While the dinner was scheduled to end at 4:30, volunteers happily kept the doors open an hour later, recognizing how important it was to give everyone a taste of Thanksgiving. Candice, Laurie, and crew stayed hours afterwards for clean-up.
"You need to volunteer, you need to give back to the people," Laurie noted, when asked what she and Candice have in common in thinking about community service. "We've been blessed, we need to give back."
Next month, plans are in the works to partner with Candice and company once again to provide a Christmas dinner for Stone Grove residents. To find out more, email Laurie at rileysroost1102@gmail.com. Volunteers are also needed to host a version of Santa's Wonderland on site at the Stone Grove Community Center. This initiative is in addition to ORBC's Santa's Wonderland held annually on campus--while the traditional event has attracted nearly enough members to meet all anticipated needs, there are still ample opportunities to serve in similar capacities at Stone Grove. Email Jim Kaylor for details, jim.kaylor@perdue.com.
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