Church’s Thanksgiving Meal for Homeless Moved to New Location: Dallas: Original Site for Thanksgiving Meal Drew Fire From Residents
By Joanna Cattanach, The Dallas Morning News
Nov. 21–Thanksgiving will continue as planned for homeless people in the Cedars neighborhood, but this year’s feast has been moved to a nearby church lot after complaints from nearby residents.
Waycross Church at 1518 Beaumont St. will serve as the new site for the eighth annual feast and fellowship organized by volunteers at Friendship-West Baptist Church on Wheatland Road.
The original 1990 S. Ervay St. location drew complaints from nearby residents who said the church wasn’t authorized to use the property.
Jimmie Harp, a church volunteer, said that after the church failed to obtain a permit to use the Ervay site, Waycross Church offered the use of its lot.
More than 100 volunteers will work in shifts to serve Thanksgiving meals from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the church Web site.
“It’s not an all-day or five-day or three-day event,” Mr. Harp said. “It’s just a good thing for the whole community.”
Albert Scherbarth, vice president of the Cedars Neighborhood Association, said that he understands people want to do good and that concerned residents aren’t seeking to make the needy go hungry on Thanksgiving.
But he said he and others are concerned about illegal feedings and organizers’ failure to take responsibility for cleaning up afterward.
“They did it last year and made a huge mess,” Mr. Scherbarth said.
He said he has seen charitable groups come and go, but it’s business owners and residents who deal with the day-to-day reality of the homeless, prostitution and drugs in the neighborhood. He’d rather see churches take the homeless to their own neighborhoods for a good meal rather than stopping in the Cedars for a few hours and leaving.
“Every weekend there’s some do-gooder down there, but what are you helping, what are you really helping?” he asked.
Mr. Harp said the church makes a point of cleaning up and will do so again this year.
“We take all the trash, load it back on the truck and take it back to the church,” Mr. Harp said.
He also said he and other members of the congregation visit and pray for residents year-round as part of the church’s urban ministry.
FEEDING THE HUNGRY
Many area charitable organizations offer Thanksgiving meals for the needy. Here are some:
— The Salvation Army will be serving Thanksgiving meals from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at various locations: 712 W. Abram in Arlington, 5302 Harry Hines Blvd. in Dallas, 1508 E. McKinney St. in Denton and Fort Worth at 18955 E. Lancaster Ave.
— Volunteers from Meals on Wheels will be delivering Thanksgiving meals Thursday.
— The Church on the Rock Community Fellowship and the Greater Saint Mark Baptist Church will serve Thanksgiving meals from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 2437 E. Ledbetter. Seating is limited, and meals will be packaged for those wishing to pick up their meals.
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