Thrivent Volunteers Do Meatsgiving

Written by Fred Cowley

Faith Lutheran Thrivent volunteers recently put the “Meat” in the Mount of Olives Food Closet Thanksgiving Meatsgiving Day and put a smile on the lips of 135 Food Closet families. It started with a trip to Costco where we used a $250 Thrivent Action Team grant, a $50 Costco gift card, and turkey donations from Costco employees to come up with 50 pork roasts, 10 large turkeys, and 7 8-packs of hot dogs.

The scene shifted to the Mount of Olives campus where Thrivent volunteers help set up and distribute the meat along with more than 7400 pounds of goodies donated by St.Mary’s Food Bank. Included were Jimmie Dean breakfasts and dinners, cans of tuna, potatoes, peanut butter, pastries, cookies, chocolate syrup and more. Many of the recipients expressed their “Thanks” by wishing volunteers a “Happy Thanksgiving”. One family member was more specific”: “Thanks…if it wasn’t for you folks and Mount of Olives, we wouldn’t be having a Thanksgiving”.

Thrivent volunteers who participated: Betsy Loehnis, Barbara Andrew, Don Rehms, Art Escoto, Chris Jacobson, Jane & Sarah Upham Birdsall, Fred Cowley, Jeff and Diane Havir, Lou & Laura Kohring, Nancy Lehman, Paul Bott, and Judi Tyler.