Saturday, November 23rd, the Rotary Club of Aggieland members and volunteers from the community came out to help box up items fit for a Thanksgiving meal. Fred Patterson, President of Aggieland Rotary Club was a member the very first year they did Thanksgiving baskets. He says it’s come a long way. "We started this program over 15 years ago, just 12 baskets, and we've done as much as 500, today's goal is 470,” said Patterson. Each box will feed up to 10 family members this Thanksgiving.
Friday, we put boxes together, sticker the boxes, staged all the dry goods in preparation for an early Saturday Morning.
Saturday morning the turkeys arrived at 6:00 we unloaded and at 7:00 we began assembling boxes. 470 boxes were full and ready for pick up by volunteer drivers by 8:00 AM. We had over 100 drivers signed up to deliver boxes to the needy in the Brazos Valley. We had all the boxes delivered before noon. The most moving part of the whole event is the delivery of the food to the families. They are always so appreciative, and it can be quite over whelming that $25 worth of food can move them to tears. It is one of the most wonderful days of the year.
Our volunteers this year included grown children of the members in our Club. PJ Hathaway cannot remember a time when he did not help with boxes the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Ryan Ullman said he can remember helping since he was about 6 years old. We had many little helpers put stickers on the boxes this year and our hope is that they have the same experience. What a great way to bring up the next generation with community service and Rotary engrained in them.
“The Brazos Valley is such a special place, I have received so much, both personally and professionally, that I like to serve where I can, I like to give back,” said Katie Dempsey from Candi 95.
Dempsey says there’s no better way to get in the giving spirit.
"Look at home many boxes we were able to fill, look at how many meals we're going to be able to provide, we do take it for granted but I think the Brazos Valley has a spirit about it, it's so good at giving back to those in need,” said Dempsey.
News footage of the event can be seen here:
