LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Organizers say the Compassionate Ministries Thanksgiving feast has become a signature Lima event, and when you look inside and see volunteers working to serve thousands of meals, you can see why. It started more than 40 years ago as an effort to make sure no one spent Thanksgiving alone, and thousands come every year to enjoy a hot meal and some companionship.
Inside the Civic Center, hundreds of volunteers spend the day before and the day of Thanksgiving preparing and serving meals for the community feast. Jonathan Burkey, executive director of Compassionate Ministries in Lima, says the effort to provide a community meal began in 1984 and has been passed down through several organizations, but the mission remains the same.
“For me, probably the highlight of the meal is the opportunity for folks to fellowship, to have someone to just sit across the table with. You know, there are people here whose family is out of state that they're just not able to get with them on this holiday. There are individuals here who have just lost a spouse, who are grieving that and the child's not here, or they don't have children. And there, there are people here for so many different reasons, and really, as a community, we are at our best when we just care for each other, when we carry each other's burdens,” Burkey said.
This year, Burkey says they planned for around 3,000 meals, supported by hundreds of volunteers and donations from across the region.
“The West Ohio Food Bank today is giving out free food boxes. Procter and Gamble have sent a lot of hygiene items. Coca Cola is giving us beverages. Bob Evans Farms has provided the mashed potatoes. Rudolph Foods has contributed...Nutrien, Mercy Health. I mean, there are just so many organizations here that have made this possible for us.”
Tony and Amy Cover have volunteered here for 10 years, spending their Thanksgiving serving the community.
“I think it's important to give, to give of your time and your heart. I think it's an opportunity to give back to the community,” Amy Cover said.
“A lot people are in need and other people just don't have a place to go, or family. So it's a very diverse group of people that are here. Sometimes they don't have a place to go or sometimes they need a warm place,” Tony Cover said.
Even the younger volunteers were helping fill plates and carry food to tables.
“I think it's really important because a lot of people don't get to share a meal like this, and it's super exciting to share gifts like this to other people. And share the love of Jesus around,” said Lucy Burkey, a volunteer and Nathan Burkey's daughter.
It’s really a one-stop shop to leave with a hot meal, maybe even some food to go, and of course, share in a little bit of fellowship.
