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After 27 years, Community Thanksgiving meal ends; organizers urge churches to step into neighborhood-based model
Summary
Community Thanksgiving organizers told the Gadsden City Council they are ending the long-running citywide Thanksgiving meal after 27 years, citing rising costs and volunteer shortfalls. Organizers and pastors urged churches and neighborhood groups to adopt a decentralized model to continue serving residents.
GADSDEN — Organizers of Community Thanksgiving informed the Gadsden City Council that, after 27 years and nearly 11,000 plates served last year, the board has decided to discontinue the centralized community Thanksgiving meal and encouraged churches and neighborhood groups to take on localized efforts.
"After 27 years of serving our community with Alabama's largest Thanksgiving Day meal, serving nearly 11,000 plates last year, the board has made the tough decision to end the event," Craig Scott, a representative for the Community Thanksgiving board, said during the council's department reports session.
Board chair Darlene Harkrow described rising costs, declining volunteer numbers and increasing demand as the reasons behind the decision and…
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