Augusta Rescue Mission offers free Thanksgiving meals

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

News 12 at 11

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Some families are struggling because of a delay in their food stamp or SNAP benefits and they'll be looking for somewhere to go for their Thanksgiving meal.

The Augusta Rescue Mission is one of several places opening their doors to those in need tomorrow. But they say they're aware there may be even more people in line because of problems with DFACS and they're here to help.

Chris Jones, the executive director of the Augusta Rescue Mission says he looks forward to Thanksgiving Day all year.

"Those in the community that don't have a place to go for Thanksgiving, they can come here and eat," said Jones.

They'll be starting bright and early.

"All the guys in the program start super early we start breakfast at 6:30 a.m," said Jones.

The mission will have 50 volunteers delivering 250 meals to the community, and serving another 150 right here in person.

"When our volunteers come in and serve they say they feel like it's the best thing they've done all year, and as a far as the people who come in and eat, they feel blessed to know someone actually cares for them," said Jones.

Both he and Tyrone Tucker, who joined the program to get his life back on track, realize the lines might be a little longer this year.

"I feel like we're here to help anyone in the community that needs help,” said Jones. “And with people in those circumstances, that's all the more reason to do what we are doing."

He's talking about all the people not getting the SNAP benefits they need in time for Thanksgiving.

"We understand that everybody's going through something at this particular time, so we're trying to meet the needs of the people who need us,” said Tucker, a mission resident, and volunteer. “Anytime they do, we're here for them."

Tucker says he's been down on his luck before too, and he hopes people struggling, whatever their circumstances may be, will come and be inspired.

"I will be a testimony, a living testimony, to some of those who are going through the things that I went through prior to coming to the mission," said Tucker.

Meal delivery for the home-bound starts tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Thanksgiving begins at 11 a.m. and it's first come, first serve.

They say they're going to try and get as many people in an out as they can before time is up. And there are several other spots in the immediate metro area doing the same.

For a full list of places to receive a meal,