Volunteer servers at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's dining room give out a free Thanksgiving meal to the area's underprivileged. (Photo by Lauren McGaughy/NOLA.com)
Thanksgiving Day is a time for all of us to express our gratitude for what we have - health, friend, family and security. But for the homeless and underprivileged in Baton Rouge who cannot afford a big Thanksgiving dinner, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul volunteers and staff are there to provide some turkey and all the fixins.
2012 marks the 30th year the Society is providing free Thanksgiving meals in Baton Rouge. This year, it's estimated over 800 meals were served by around 150 volunteers and staff.
The meal attendees dined on turkey, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green beans, pears, cranberry sauce and cake. Once finished, attendees were shown outside, where they were given a to-go bag of food and allowed to choose from tents overflowing with donated shoes, clothes, bedding and household items.
Bishop Robert Muench, appointed the fifth bishop in Baton Rouge by Pope John Paul II in 2001, told NOLA.com he is honored to serve the area's underprivileged population.
"This is not just a place to get a free meal," Bishop Muench told NOLA.com at their dining room on St. Vincent de Paul Place. "This is a place to be honored, recognized."
"Year to year, people come with a great spirit and grateful hearts," he added, saying serving on Thanksgiving allows the volunteers to treat local poor with the "dignity, respect for humanity and gratitude" they might not always experience elsewhere.
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden, newly re-elected on Nov. 6, lent a hand in the dining room today, helping throw away trash and bring diners seconds. He frequently stopped to listen attendees' personal stories and grievances.
Other volunteers varied from the very young to those who have been volunteering here for over 15 years and included people from all around Baton Rouge area and even further afield.
Many of today's volunteers also help out here throughout the year - the dining room serves a hot meal every day of the year, as well as a brown bag supper Monday through Friday.
Bishop Muench said this year, St. Vincent de Paul served over 240,000 meals, a community record.
St. Vincent de Paul also runs a shelter, five donation locations, a community pharmacy and a council office.
Roger Edward, a diner who said he has attended the free Thursday meals before, said he was thankful for St. Vincent's today.
"This is the place to go when you don't got nothing," Edwards told NOLA.com. "I want to thank the Lord for what we get here."
Harvey, another diner, said although he hasn't attended St. Vincent's before, he is glad he heard about it today.
"It's a real nice place to be," Harvey said, adding the Thanksgiving meal is "something warm in the belly. I think it's a wonderful thing to do."
If you are interested in volunteering at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, call 225-383-SVDP. Meal servers, cooks and delivery people are needed at the dining room, while carpenters, electricians, pharmacists and physicians and clerical workers are needed at the other volunteer sites.
Source: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/11/baton_rouge_volunteers_give_ou.html
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