Giving at Thanksgiving

Giving at Thanksgiving . . .

While teaching a Sunday School Class on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, I was enlightened by one of the fourth grader’s responses to the question, of what Thanksgiving means. Most of the answers were the same as mine would be. Thanksgiving is a day set aside to thank God for the blessings you have. One little girl expanded on this answer. She said Thanksgiving is for giving thanks to God for the things we have and giving to others. The giving to others part stuck with me and I told myself that I would remember it.
Later that day, I saw an add in the newspaper, announcing that Nunzio’s, a local pizza parlor, would be closed for regular business on Thanksgiving Day so they could open the doors for their annual free Thanksgiving Meal. It hit me right away. This is the “giving to others” part of Thanksgiving.
After Thanksgiving, I contacted Nunzio’s to find out a little more about this event. I spoke with Steve Johncola, who along with his brother Sam, own Nunzio’s Pizza. According to Mr. Johncola, this was the second annual Thanksgiving meal, which is opened to anyone and of course there is no charge for the meal. One hundred and forty people were served. Many volunteer hands were involved in preparing and serving the fourteen turkeys, sixty pounds of ham, 22 pies, thirty-five loaves of bread and three roasters of yams that were provided in the feast.
When asked why they do this, Johncola’s response was, “We just saw a need. There are people who either can’t afford to have a nice Thanksgiving dinner, or just have nowhere to go to share the meal with others.”
Lots of volunteer help, and the many local business that make donations to the cause are the main reasons for the success of this project. “It’s an opportunity to give to those less fortunate,” said Johncola. Free transportation was provided for those who needed it, and pony rides were available for the kids. “We hope to continue this as long as we are able to do so,” stated Johncola. “We get more out of it than they do!” he added.
Thanks Nunzio’s, for demonstrating the “giving” part of Thanksgiving.