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The Snyder Rotary Club and local volunteers distributed free meals to the community Thanksgiving Day. Pictured are (l-r) Franzie Luecke, Bobbie Hale, Elyndabeth Toland and Yolanda Ramos.
It’s the season of giving and gathering, and locals spent Thanksgiving Day spreading that holiday spirit.
Hosted by the Snyder Rotary Club, local volunteers and club members gathered at the The Coliseum Thursday to prepare and distribute meals to the community.
“The Rotary Club has done this every Thanksgiving since 1975,” Rotary Club Secretary Geron Scates said. “Nothing would happen without our volunteers.”
Scates said the annual Thanksgiving meal has grown over the years.
“It started out as a service to low-income families, and we eventually opened it up to everyone,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what your income is; you can come and eat. Don’t be alone.”
The meal is funded by grants and the club’s community flag project. Although it is free to the public, many people choose to donate.
“People will donate, but it’s not asked,” Scates said. “Our big project to raise money for this and other projects is the flag project. Volunteers help us put out flags on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day. Through the money raised, we are able to provide the Thanksgiving meal and three scholarships for each local school, Ira, Hermleigh and Snyder. We also donate to local nonprofit organizations.”
In the last nine years, the largest amount of meals distributed on Thanksgiving reached 600, but the number varies from year to year.
“Most of the meals will be delivered to people — especially those who are homebound,” Scates said. “We usually order enough to feed 500 people, but the number is different every year. One year we had so much left over that we delivered the rest to the police department, firefighters and EMS.”
According to Scates, the reason for providing these meals is to spread good will.
“With everything going on in the world, we want to do something positive,” he said. “We can’t go out and change the entire world, but we can have a positive impact in our community. We close every Rotary Club meeting with our Four Way Test. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it benefit all concerned? If you apply those four fundamental principals to every decision you make, you will have a positive outcome.”