Birmingham Salvation Army serves last Thanksgiving meal at downtown location
Birmingham Salvation Army held its last Thanksgiving meal at its facility near the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. (Karim Shamsi-Basha / Alabama NewsCenter)
We were all thankful last Thursday.
Thankful for our families gathered around the table, for the turkey and all the fixings, and for the football game outside with Aunt Martha playing quarterback.
Another family was even more thankful.
This family has hundreds of members (clients), dozens of volunteers and endless amounts of love. The clients of the Birmingham Salvation Army gathered at the downtown location to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with turkey, dressing, green beans, cranberries and pumpkin pie.
Salvation Army of Birmingham serves last Thanksgiving meal in long-time location from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
“We are honored to serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal to our clients and guests,” Area Commander Major Bob Parker said. “Thanksgiving is about coming together and giving thanks. What makes this meal different is our volunteers serve our guests restaurant-style, instead of the usual food line. They serve with thankful hearts, and because they share their blessings with others, it’s a very special day for everyone.”
After 50 years of “Doing the Most Good” in downtown Birmingham, the Salvation Army will move to a new facility near Finley Boulevard, the former Lewis Elementary School. The new building, known as the Center of Hope, sits on a 4.1-acre campus and consists of three interconnected buildings totaling 120,000 square feet.
“For the past 50 years, we have held it together at this location with prayer and duct tape. We are thrilled to be moving to our new location,” Parker said. “We are family to our clients. Everyone needs a family. The new facility will enable us to do more for the people we love.”
Programs and services at the new Center of Hope will provide assistance to more clients and offer solutions to poverty, homelessness, addiction and lack of education. It will house an education and workforce development center, which will provide GED preparations and vocational training. A pantry will enable clients to shop for the items they need, and transitional apartments will be reserved for families and individuals working toward independence. The Pathway of Hope initiative will focus on solving intergenerational poverty by building community alliances and opening doors to opportunity.
The clients who depend on the Salvation Army have much to be thankful for, like the volunteers who served the Thanksgiving meal.
“We owe so much to our board members and our volunteers. They come year after year and make our clients feel very special on this day. They even bring their children,” Parker said.
Rikesha Foster has served the Thanksgiving meal at the Salvation Army for the past five years.
“There is no other place I’d rather be,” Foster said. “Today, I see people from all walks of life. They yearn to talk to and fellowship with others. There is no way to explain the gratitude inside, but the Salvation Army has become my family every Thanksgiving.”
Bob and Jennifer Mitchell bring their two children, Sara Catherine and Hughes, every year to share their blessings.
“It’s a great way for us to give back to the community. Our children see they are very blessed and get to share the love with others,” Bob Mitchell said. “I hope it creates a spirit of giving back, and then pass it on to their families.”
With the new facility, the Birmingham Salvation Army will accomplish even more of its mission: feeding empty stomachs and hungry souls.
Prayer will always be a major part of that mission, but not as much duct tape will be needed.
