By Josh Troy, Clarksdale Advocate
The Care Station in Clarksdale feeds members of the community every Thanksgiving, but it could not happen without a group effort. Community leaders, city and county officials, sororities, educators, the Clarksdale Fire Department, and other citizens came together on this past Thursday at the Coahoma County Expo Center to feed and deliver 1,100 meals. The traditional Thanksgiving meals consisted of turkey, dressing, gravy, yam, green beans, cake, and rolls. Citizens who otherwise would not have been able to have Thanksgiving meals received the plates of food.
Care Station volunteer Rod Spinks was grateful to the citizens who volunteered their time to box and deliver meals. “We couldn’t do it without them,” he said. Spinks said many of the volunteers show up annually. “Young people, old people, it’s a pretty good cross-section of the town,” he said.
The Clarksdale Fire Department has been a fixture in serving Thanksgiving meals. “It’s a tradition,” said Assistant Fire Chief Willie Williams. “We do this every year. It’s been a long time.”
The Rev. Dennis Hawkins, also the Coahoma Community College Board President, provided his thoughts before saying the blessing on Thursday. “You don’t realize it is such a blessing to sit on that side of the table and prepare and serve the meals and not have to be a recipient on this side of the table,” he said. “That means you’ve been blessed. We’re blessed to be a blessing to others. Even though we’re celebrating the day of Thanksgiving, I learned a long time ago every day is a day of Thanksgiving.” Hawkins said he thanked God for waking up this Thanksgiving morning.
Crystal Bradley, Certified Community Support Specialist for Milestone Mental Health Agency LLC, expressed similar sentiments. “It’s always a blessing to give back and help those who are in need,” she said. “It’s a blessing to be able to serve.”
Clarksdale resident Raymond Cole is a long-time volunteer. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” he said. Cole said the Good Lord is the reason he continues to volunteer. “He said, ‘Do unto others as you would have others do unto you,’” Cole said.
