PETERSBURG — The St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section of the National Council of Negro Women outdid themselves this Thanksgiving season.
“God just blessed us with an overflow of food,” exclaimed Thelma Bruce, president.
And an overflow it was. By bringing the community together, 233 needy families were able to take home a cornucopia of goodies, as opposed to the 10 families that were blessed last year.
This year the ladies of NCNW partnered with other local organization such as the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, The Christian Generation Center of Hope, Somebody Cares Tampa Bay, Naomi Titus2 Covenant Alliance, the AME Church St. Petersburg District and the St. Petersburg Chapter of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
But the partnership didn’t stop there. Feeding America Tampa Bay pulled up with a truckload of chicken, steak, ham and fresh vegetables, and not to be outdone, A Place of Recovery dropped by with a truck full of fresh produce also.
Christina Fields, an administrator from the Pinellas County School District’s HEAT program, brought palates of can goods, while Pastor Eddie Robinson from the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance broke out his grill and cooked up sausages, hamburgers and chicken fajitas for those waiting in line.
Clothing and housewares were also available, and thanks to an anonymous donor, many items were donated with the tags still on them. Leftover clothing items will be given to the Dress for Success job program.
“It just felt so good to be able to do this,” said Bruce, who under her leadership the St. Pete chapter has grown by 60 new members in two years. “We are trying to get our name out there. We need to get out into the community.”
Pastor Robinson plans to take the leftovers food and drink to the Panhandle to help bring much-needed relief to Hurricane Michael victims.
