TULSA -- Hundreds of homeless people in Tulsa got a proper Thanksgiving meal after volunteers sacrificed their own Thanksgiving Day.
John McDaniel is going on his third time being homeless in Tulsa. He said, “This time, it’s more challenging because I’m getting more older . . . It’s been a little harder this time, but I know and have faith that I’m going to make it out.”
But he didn’t know if he would get a Thanksgiving meal this year, until Bright Spot Mobile Family Services rolled up at the Tulsa Day Center.
Thanks entirely to donations, volunteers prepared and served 500 plates and even had enough for seconds.
With a smile, McDaniel said, “They gave some extras. It was just extraordinary.”
For many of the homeless, the food is more than just a meal.
McDaniel said, “To me, it shows that people really do care about homeless people. A lot of people think negative about certain homeless people. Certain homeless people are on drugs, but everybody who’s homeless is not like that.”
Angela Lane, a volunteer, said, “There’s a very negative stigma that comes with being homeless or living section 8 housing. People form opinions about who you are and how you are, the way you live your life. We found that is not true most of the time.”
Lane and her friend, Jamie Heightgrass, as well as a handful of others gave up their own Thanksgiving to make sure those in need could have one of their own.
Heightgrass said, “We would be happier out sharing this with someone else. So, it’s not that we’re missing out on Thanksgiving; we actually want to sit down and have a meal with them in fellowship of the residents or people were serving.”
Lane added, “I’m definitely not missing out. I’m about to go home with my family. They were with us all earlier. This is where I want to be on Thanksgiving.”
It’s all in the spirit of giving to those who are thankful for the little things in life.
McDaniel said, “I’m truly grateful and thankful that they came out today.”
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