Committee approves up to $1,500 for community Thanksgiving lunch

The Community and Economic Development Committee voted to appropriate up to $1,500 from the committee’s economic development fund to support a community Thanksgiving lunch organized by Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church and the nonprofit Live Laugh Loaves.

Alderman Peter Bergellis introduced the item and invited Michael Arntz, president of Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church and a Live Laugh Loaves organizer, to brief the committee. Arntz said his organization distributes food to residents across the city and plans a free Thanksgiving lunch open to anyone who wants to attend. He said the organization currently distributes between 6,000 and 7,000 food items per week through its corner distribution and partner pantries.

Arntz told the committee the meal will provide camaraderie as well as food for people who may not have family to spend the holiday with; he said the event will be free and open to everyone. Alderman Jackson moved for the committee to approve the appropriation; the motion was ordered after “hearing no objection.”

The committee recorded the appropriation as qualifying under the community economic development fund guidelines and ordered the measure on the committee record.