Churches, restaurants around Charlotte give back on Thanksgiving

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Thousands of people are being treated to a Thanksgiving meal courtesy of Charlotte churches and restaurants.

For the 19th year, Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church and the Parkview Community Foundation provided food to hundreds of people on Tuckaseegee.

"I am not even tired and I’ve been working on this picking up food before the sun came up," Gwen Johnson said. "Some of the people wouldn't have dinner if we weren't serving it, and we know there is a lot of people in this area that would not be eating."

In addition to a Thanksgiving meal, the church provided clothing to anyone who needs it.

Pastor Orstell Barnett says this all comes back to his church's mission.

"Our focus is on the left out, the left over and the left behind because someone has to care," he said. "With the resources we have we are able to minister to them with a meal but most importantly the word."

Restaurants throughout Charlotte also provided free meals to the community.

More than 3,000 people received a Thanksgiving dinner courtesy of Skyland restaurant in southwest Charlotte. The line wrapped around the parking lot.

In Uptown at King's Kitchen, another couple hundred were served.

"The food is just the tool to build the relationship and find out the needs of the community folks we serve are," Bo Frowine of King's Kitchen, said.

For restaurants and churches, it is an opportunity to give back

"I am thankful for the fact that I have the ability, and we have the ability to do something," Barnett said. "Anytime we have the opportunity to reach back and give someone a helping hand, we do it."

Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church gives back every single week. The church is located at 2800 Tuckaseegee Road.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays the church has a mission kitchen and clothing ministry from 1-2 p.m. Donations are accepted at the church every Sunday at 10 am. Winter clothing donations are currently needed.

The Parkview Community Foundation provides food to kids every single day at 4 p.m. On Fridays the after school program gives kids backpacks full of food for the weekend. Kids without microwaves are able to use the microwave at the nearby Quick and Easy mini mart.

Cox Media Group