VIDEO: Churches Cross Racial, Denominational Lines To Help Others Thanksgiving Day

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A Thanksgiving tradition that brings churches together across racial and denominational lines continues in Tupelo.

After a thanksgiving prayer, dozens of  volunteers got to work.  For nearly 30 years, Christians on the Move to Evangelize has prepared and delivered lunches to inmates and staff in area jails, shut ins, those in the ICU waiting room and many others.

“Some elderly people are forgotten on Thanksgiving and they don’t have a decent meal prepared,” said Pastor Clarence Parks, who started the outreach.

Churches share the task of preparing the plates.  Some congregations provide vegetables, others bring pans of dressing. Many the same volunteers year after years, who were recognized for their selfless giving.

“It’s just a Christian duty to me to come out here and help,” said longtime volunteer Mary Petrie.

“We would do it even if we wasn’t recognized. It’s just something that we did. When you have the love of God in you, it’s something you will always do to show action,” said longtime volunteer Nettie Sue McCutcheon.

Young volunteers say they realize the importance of continuing the mission.

“I come out here to help the less fortunate and put a smile on other people’s faces. Sometimes we get caught up in thinking it’s about just being around our family, making sure our family is fed when we have neighbors that don’t have food or know where their next meal is coming from,” said Tiffany Carruthers.

“If young people are involved with things that are positive, it can draw in people that are maybe on the streets, or who don’t know about helping others,” said Marjorie Meadows.

More than 700 meals were delivered on this Thanksgiving day.

Another outreach will take place for Christmas , at Harrisburg Baptist Church.