148 reasons to be thankful
Staff writer
From Ampride’s annual handout of Thanksgiving meals Thursday’s numbers were close to double from last year.
Ampride handed out 148 free Thanksgiving meals surpassing a high of 90 set last year and 70 in 2023.
“Next year it will even be bigger,” Krystal Sherrill with Ampride said
What set the annul giveaway apart from its first four years is that the first 30 meals went to Marion County inmates and Sheriff’s Office employees working on the holiday.
“I was talking with someone about the event who mentioned feeding the inmates,” she said. Ampride decided not only to have meals for the inmates but also for those having to work.
More meals could be cooked and handed out because of the public’s generosity, Sherrill said.
“We pay for these meals through donations,” she said.
The meals were handed out from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A few stragglers came in a little after 2 p.m., and there was enough food left over to serve them.
Ampride had eight boneless turkey roasts compared to one to two they had when starting the giveaway.
The first time, the turnout was low, as many people were unaware what was available.
The number of people coming for meals has increased every year.
Four employees and two volunteers cooked and distributed the meals.
Store manager Tina Novack got the food for the event.
“None of this would have happened if it was not for all of us,” Sherrill said.
A lot of people might not have families and do not want to cook just for themselves, she said.
Sherrill said Ampride would like to have a sit-down meal, but there is no space available for this.
One thing Ampride wanted to make sure Thursday was that no one in line had to wait too long to be provided their meal.