Mobile food pantry aims to provide 1,000 families with a Thanksgiving meal
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Hundreds of families in need will now have a Thanksgiving meal after a mobile food pantry event on Tuesday.
Gleaners, Estes Chevrolet, and St. Vincent Hospital teamed up to make it happen. The goal was to provide food for 1,000 families.
Organizers say the need is there and this is the time to give back.
“Those of us who have should be very thankful and grateful and we should try and pay it forward,” said Bill Estes with Estes Chevrolet.
24-Hour News 8 spoke with one woman who was in line to receive food. She said asking for help isn’t always easy, but she’s glad she did this time. Being able to stay home and make dinner with her family is something she says will make this thanksgiving unforgettable.
“I don’t even know what is all in there. I need to see what is in the box so we can whip everything up. It is going to be amazing!” said the woman who wanted to be identified only as Jekeira.
“That is one less dinner they have to worry about,” said Bobby Syczylo with Good News Ministries. Syczylo loaded a couple dozen meals on to his truck. He plans to work with a youth group to deliver the meals to those who weren’t able to pick them up themselves.
“For me to see people happy and a smile on their face, especially this time of year when people have a hard time getting through and making ends meet… it is rewarding for me,” said Syczylo.
“It is emotional. These people have nothing and they are so emotional. There will be tears today thanking us for a meal. It is hard for you and I to understand that, so it is very special,” said Estes.
The Thanksgiving mobile food pantry has been done for years in Indianapolis. Estes said it started as the Peyton Manning Thanksgiving Giveaway, and even though Manning may not be here in Indianapolis anymore, they’re keeping the tradition of feeding 1,000 families going.