SIOUX CITY, IA -
It's a time honored "Turkey Day" tradition: dozens of volunteers descending upon Sioux City's Gospel Mission and dishing out a "Thanksgiving Feast."
"Sometimes I dish up the food, sometimes I walk from table to table and serve it, do the drinks, whatever," said long time Gospel Mission Volunteer Mary Hammack.
"They want to be able to reach out to individuals too that are less fortunate than what they are and feel that this is some manner in which they can touch their lives," said Gospel Mission Executive Director Harold Youtzy, talking about the dozens of volunteers who serve the Thanksgiving meal every year.
From turkey to mashed potatoes, corn to cranberry sauce and everything in-between, around 250 folks will be feeling stuffed before the day is over.
"It's more blessed to give than it is to receive, so the donors that have donated the items, they are being blessed through their donation, we're being blessed from it as well, and now we have a chance to pass that blessing along to the recipients through those that are going to come through our doors and eat," said Youtzy.
Some, like Mary Hammack, make the day a family affair.
She brings her daughter and granddaughters, turning a family tragedy into a family tradition.
"My husband had passed away 9 years ago and he wasn't with us for our first Thanksgiving, so we had it in October, and then we decided to come here, kind of in honor of him," said Hammack.
A small army of volunteers dishing out kindness, and a little dessert, as well.
