Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner Feeds Thousands of Homeless

[gtxvideo vid=”FIsCA9ue” playlist=”” pid=”rkijshg2″ thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/FIsCA9ue.jpg” vtitle=”St. Peters Thanksgiving Dinner”]

Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — For Thanksgiving, St. Peters and First Baptist Church joined for the 25th Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner to help feed those in need. For John Hutchins, it‘s his first Thanksgiving living on the streets. “It‘s been terrible,” said Hutchins. ” I was a manager for a grocery store and I did that for 25 years and all the sudden I lost my wife and I didn‘t care about anything else so I lost everything and I‘ve been out here about a year now” However, thanks to Saint Peters and First Baptist Church, Hutchins wasn’t celebrating Thanksgiving this year alone. He joined thousands at Carolina Coliseum for a hot Thanksgiving meal. “I‘m thankful for today that I have a meal here, I‘m grateful that I have people that I brought down with me to have a meal,” said Richard Holloway. The Interfaith Thanksgiving dinner tradition is celebrating 25 years of serving up turkey, potatoes and gravy to anyone in need including this years flood victims. “Unfortunately, there’s a need for it, there’s always a great need,” said Coordinator Robert Keeder. “Look what’s going on with the flood situation, that’s a great need there‘s always a need out there.” For Hutchins, the gift giving brings hope for a brighter future. “This is great, I pray this is my last Thanksgiving here and I pray for everyone else to get off the street,” explained Hutchins. In addition to serving thousands at the Carolina Coliseum, the church groups also delivered thousands of meals to nursing homes across the midlands.