Thanksgiving comes early for 100 thanks to Lynchburg woman

It wasn’t about the day, and it wasn’t about turkey or cherry pie, but for more than 100 people in Lynchburg on Saturday, there was plenty of opportunity for thanksgiving.

From 1 to 5 p.m., people partook of an early Thanksgiving meal at Lynchburg’s Parks and Recreation building on Grove Street.

Barbara Horsley, of Lynchburg, said she and her family had been planning the event since October, and added that she hoped to serve 100 people Saturday.

“Right at 1, people started coming in,” she said.

Volunteers, many from among Horsley’s family and friends, served up turkey, mashed potatoes, beans, sub sandwiches, pizza, cakes and soda.

Horsley said at the end of the day, the group, which she dubbed “Blessed to be a Blessing,” had fed 143 people.

“I had a vision to do this, and then my family and the community just stepped in,” Horsley said.

Ray Thomas, an associate minister at Scott Zion Baptist Church in Madison Heights, said he had known Horsley since they met through their work at the Central Virginia Training Center.

“She’s always wanted to do something to help people,” Thomas said.

“How can you better bless the community than having some good food and good fellowship, and also some words of encouragement,” he asked.

Thomas said he was glad he got the opportunity to address those gathered for the meal early in the afternoon.

“People are going through all kinds of different things in their life, and I’m just thankful that I could be a part of this.”

Fay Cooper, of Campbell Avenue, said she heard about the event when someone handed her a flyer early Saturday afternoon.

“I think it’s wonderful, because you know with times so bad, now people are struggling,” she said.

Being a single mother with a 19-year-old daughter, Cooper said the simple offer of free food was a blessing to her.

“My husband died last year, and I’ve just been having a hard time, you know, paying bills and stuff,” she said, adding “I love to eat, on top of that.”

She said her spirits had been down recently, and Saturday’s event just hit the spot.

“I think it’s wonderful that (God) brought me to this place, because it sure cheered me up today.”

Horsley said she was grateful to all the local businesses that donated food for the event, naming 17 organizations including Applebee’s, Red Lobster, Crown Sterling and Golden Corral.

Kevin Middleton, one of the owners of Bulls Steakhouse, in Forest, said he donated 100 chicken sandwiches as a gesture of goodwill to the community.

“We’re always willing to help if we can,” he said.

“I know with the economy, it’s been tough on a lot of charities,” he added.

Horsley said she didn’t know where she would have been without such an outpouring of support.

“If it hadn’t been for them,” she said of the businesses, “I really couldn’t have pulled this off.”

Horsley said a secondary goal of hers, as a self-described churchgoer, was to change the perception of those associated with church as always being concerned with money.

“A lot of people feel like people don’t care,” she said.

“I just wanted them to know that I care and that the community cares.”

She said one of the goals of the group is to branch out into bigger events.

Like a Christmas dinner?

“They want me to,” she said, and added, trailing off, “I don’t know.”

Other area organizations are providing free dinners for those in need, on Thanksgiving Day.

Afternoon meal:

Who: Lynchburg’s Daily Bread

When: 10:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

Where: 721 Clay St., Lynchburg

Evening meal:

Who: Lynchburg’s Salvation Army branch

When: Salvation Army residents served at 5 p.m.; non-residents served at 5:30 p.m.

Where: 2211 Park Ave., Lynchburg