From left, Mecca Bowen, who coordinates the fourth annual Thanksgiving meals drive together with her husband, Wealthy; Tom Torrence, commander of Chester Veterans of International Wars Submit 6450; Joe Capato, postmaster; Gordon Inexperienced, put up chaplain; and Wealthy Bowen. The VFW put up is partnering with donor David Stacey to sponsor the hassle, making Thanksgiving meals doable for everybody in northern Hancock County, no matter earnings degree. (Picture by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
CHESTER — For the reason that pandemic, the Bowen household and space volunteers related to Thanksgiving have blessed greater than 200 space households in northern Hancock County with an exquisite Thanksgiving meal.
Thus far this yr, greater than 26 households have been advised to Mecca Bowen as recipients of the hassle, which is financially led by Chester Veterans of International Wars Submit 6450 and David Stacey.
Every recipient household receives a turkey (normally 10 to 12 kilos relying on family dimension), potatoes, noodles, dressing, canned greens, rolls, and desserts for his or her household's feast. Bowen stated there are additionally eggs and butter if somebody donates them too.
College counselors and principals from Allison and New Manchester elementary faculties, in addition to Oak Glen faculties, supplied nominations of worthy households based mostly on want, with Bowen's daughter, Chrissy Peters, as liaison.
Wealthy Bowen, Mecca's husband and official turkey purchaser, confirmed that the necessity for this system has been rising annually. They normally begin with 10 nominations from faculties; Nonetheless, this yr there are already 16 household beneficiaries who will obtain a meal for his or her house. “We don't need anybody to be left with out” he defined. The Bowens used to function the flower store in downtown Chester, the place they believed they need to be lively in the neighborhood.
Meal deliveries shall be made on Saturday, November 23.
At first, the Bowens weren't certain if they’d do it once more this yr, particularly with the lack of their big fridge and meals tent. Nonetheless, their supporters, like Stacey, and their household satisfied them that it wanted to occur.
In earlier years, Stacey was at all times touring for work, so she couldn't essentially take part. This yr, he determined to reaffirm his help for Staff Bowen, influencing his choice to withdraw the Thanksgiving mission. When reached by cellphone, Stacey stated she was absolutely conscious of how a lot northern Hancock County wanted this, as she typically noticed folks take objects on the grocery retailer and finally return them attributable to value and as a substitute get a dinner tv within the freezer part. . I needed that fear to subside.
Datasmbly has estimated that this yr's Thanksgiving dinner will value simply over $50 for conventional staples, which Stacey famous is some huge cash to spend on a single meal.
Along with the preliminary monetary helps used to buy giant objects like turkeys, space residents additionally contribute issues like canned greens, sides and desserts. These may be dropped off at Frank's Pastry Store throughout enterprise hours or contact Mecca Bowen at 304-479-0683 to rearrange pickup by Thursday, November 21.
sujhelyi@mojonews.com