JAMES CITY COUNTY — For more than 20 years, the Grove Christian Outreach Center has been providing traditional Thanksgiving meals for residents in the Grove community.
This year, the Outreach Center served more than 200 households through a Thanksgiving Market where residents could self-select items they most enjoyed instead of receiving a pre-packaged box.
“Thanksgiving is a time when we reflect on what we have to be grateful for over the course of the year and at Grove Christian Outreach Center we are grateful for our neighbors, who regularly show us what grace and dignity mean,” said Katie Patrick, Executive Director.
Similar to the Fresh Food Room, where the Outreach Center opens fresh produce and breads daily, the Thanksgiving Market is designed to help the neighbors facing food insecurity be part of the choices they make for healthy, nutritious foods, as well as reducing some of the stigma associated with needing assistance.
“This has been a tough year, with many still suffering from the effects of the pandemic, or still coming down with COVID themselves. Missing work for five to 10 days for an hourly worker can make or break the ability to pay rent or put groceries on the table. The Outreach Center is able to serve over 200 families this Thanksgiving Season because we have been supported by a caring community that believes no senior, adult, or child should face food insecurity,” stated Patrick.
The market-like experience helps to preserve dignity and a sense of participation in providing for the household’s needs, and helps the Outreach Center achieve its mission to “foster relationships” as neighbors come and get to spend some time with staff and volunteers.
This year, Grove Christian Outreach was assisted by volunteers from AES Consulting Engineers, Dominion Energy, AKA Sorority-Lambda Lambda Omega Chapter, and Senator Monty Mason’s office.
